The national congressional campaign committees accounted for much of the growth in soft money contributions since 1995. The very purpose of these committees is to elect House and Senate candidates to office and the activities they conduct clearly reflect this. Both of the Senatorial committees have set up joint fundraising committees with Senate candidates facing competitive November elections. These joint committees raise both hard and soft money contributions with hard money proceeds split between the candidate and the party committee, while soft money proceeds go to the party committee. Similar joint fundraising committees between the national parties and candidates have already been established for Senate races in California, Florida, Michigan, Missouri, Pennsylvania, and Washington.
Hard money means contributions that are legal under federal law for federal elections.
Soft money means contributions made outside the limits and prohibitions of federal law, including large individual or PAC contributions and direct corporate or union contributions. Totals do not include transfers between party committees, bank loans or interest, offsets to operating expenditures, or other business-related receipts.