Money Well Spent? The Five Races with the Most PAC Money

Other Races of Note

Supporters sing 'God Bless America' during a watch party for U.S. Senate candidate, Rep. Todd Akin, R-Mo., Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2012, in Chesterfield, Missouri. Democratic incumbent Claire McCaskill retained her seat in the U.S. Senate. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

– The most expensive race for the House was in Ohio’s 16th District. Two veteran representatives were forced to face off because of redistricting. Both Jim Renacci (R) and Betty Sue Sutton (D) received over $5 million in help from outside sources. Renacci won.

-In the Missouri Senate race, outside groups spent over $5 million opposing Todd Akin and over $1 million opposing Democratic incumbent Claire McCaskill. McCaskill won. Probably less a victory for big money than a loss for biggest gaffe: Akin became nationally infamous after his “legitimate rape” comment.

-In California’s 15th District, two Democrats faced off because of a new state law requiring the two most popular primary candidates to run against each other. Eighty-one-year-old incumbent Pete Stark was challenged by 31-year-old Eric Swalwell. OpenSecrets.org reports, “56 percent of Stark’s campaign contributions came from out-of-state and a very high 66 percent came from PACs (compared to Swalwell’s 10 percent).” Swalwell won.

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