Louisiana’s congressional candidates have raised $74 million this election cycle. LA Politics.com publisher Jeremy Alford says that’s a record-breaking number, and there are several reasons why it’s so high.
“The total fundraising number is at an all-time high. The out-of-state money is at an all-time-high. Also, at a record paces, are the loans that the candidates are giving themselves to run,” Alford explained.
According to OpenSecrets, which is a nonprofit campaign finance watchdog, only 11 states have seen their candidates raise more. Alford says perhaps most striking: almost 80% of that cash is pouring in from outside the state.
“Or people who maybe don’t know how to peel crawfish, maybe can’t find Grand Isle on a map; but they can cut a check, and they can find our Congressional members,” Alford noted.
In Louisiana, two of the state’s five House elections are open, which is resulting in a flood of donations. Alford says two of the candidates, State Representative Michael Echols and State Senator Blake Miguez, have poured millions of dollars into their own campaigns.
“You’ve got to be able to be competitive from day one; and one of the easiest ways to do that is to go into your own pockets,” Alford said.
Alford says House Speaker Mike Johsnon from Bossier Parish and House Majority Leader Steve Scalise of Jefferson are also bringing in large fundraising hauls, which is leading to the $74 million raised so far. This total will go up as new campaign finance numbers will come out this week.