This page is a final analysis of campaign contributions from individuals to major party congressional candidates. Self-financed contributions are included. For an analysis of the demographics of the donors to congressional candidates, visit our Donor Gaps page. For an analysis of state candidates (for statewide executive and state legislative office) for our ten key focus states, visit our The State View: A Deep Dive page. Visit our Final Analysis report page for our summary analysis of all congressional and state races. Because this project analyzed those candidates who filed campaign finance reports, these statistics may not reflect the total number of candidates who ran. For more information about election 2024, please visit CAWP's Election Watch information.
Source: CAWP and OpenSecrets
Campaign finance data are through December 31, 2024. "No Data to Display" in data visualizations indicates there are no candidates in that subgroup.
- Men running for Congress nationwide had a higher average proportion of funds from self-financing than women.
- Women running for the U.S. House nationwide usually had a higher average proportion of funds from small contributions than men within both parties.
- Democratic women and men running for the U.S. Senate nationwide usually had a similar average proportion of funds from small contributions, whereas Republican men had a slightly higher average proportion of funds from small contributions than Republican women.
- The proportion of funds from small contributions was higher for women than men in 10 of 16 woman v. man contests rated as the most competitive by The Cook Political Report, higher for men in four contests, and about the same in two contests.
- The average donation to men congressional candidates nationwide was usually higher than the average donation to women congressional candidates. However, the average donation to U.S. Senate Democratic women candidates was higher than the average donation to Democratic men.
- The average total raised by U.S. House women incumbent candidates was higher than the average for men. But the average raised by U.S. Senate incumbent men was higher than the average for women.
- Women outraised men in 13 of the 16 woman v. man congressional races rated as the most competitive by The Cook Political Report. Men outraised women in 3 of the 16 races.
Maryland elected one U.S. Senator and eight members to its U.S. House delegation. The U.S. Senate seat and three House seats were open. Five women ran for the U.S. House from Maryland and two won. One woman ran for the U.S. Senate from Maryland and won.
The U.S. Senate seat won by Angela Alsobrooks had been considered “likely Democrat” by The Cook Political Report. Alsobrooks had prevailed to win the nomination despite being vastly outspent by Representative David Trone in the Democratic primary. She became the first Black woman to represent Maryland in the U.S. Senate. Senator Alsobrooks raised almost $24M. Her Republican opponent, former governor Larry Hogan, raised $6.6M. Just over one-third of Alsobrooks’ financing took the form of small contributions.
No women ran as incumbents from Maryland.
In MD-2, Republican Kim Klacik, who is Black, ran unsuccessfully for an open seat that was considered a safe Democratic seat. In MD-3, Democrat Sarah K. Elfreth, who is white, captured an open seat—another safe Democratic seat—and raised almost $2M. Meanwhile, Democrat April McClain-Delaney, who is white, ran in the open seat (MD-6), considered a likely Democratic seat by The Cook Political Report. McClain-Delaney, who raised over $5.5M, won her race.
Two Republican women ran as challengers: Michelle Talkington (MD-5) and Cheryl Riley (MD-8). However, neither race was considered competitive and both women were defeated.
This statistic is the average total amount raised to date from individuals (including self-financing).
This statistic is the average amount from self-financing as a proportion of total raised (from individuals including the candidate) by candidate subgroup.
This statistic is the average amount of contributions $200 or less as a proportion of total raised (excluding self-financed contributions) by candidate subgroup.
This Data Appendix includes women candidates who filed campaign finance reports and raised money from individuals including self-financing. “Total raised” represents the total amount raised from individuals including self-financing. The Data Appendix is sortable by candidate name, party, office, and seat status as well as the campaign finance statistics.
Campaign finance data are through December 31, 2024.
Candidates who did not report contributions from individuals including self-financed contributions are not included in the analysis. The analysis is for general election, major party nominees.
Campaign finance data are from OpenSecrets. Race/ethnicity information for women candidates are from CAWP. Candidate race/ethnicity is based on the candidate’s self-identification whenever possible.
Women who identify with more than one under-represented racial/ethnic group are not depicted in the data visualizations that are disaggregated by race/ethnicity (in order to avoid double-counting individuals). All women, including multiracial women and women who identify with more than one under-represented racial/ethnic group, are included in the data visualizations that do not disaggregate by race/ethnicity and all women are included in the Data Appendix.
The two independent U.S. Senators who caucus with the Democrats -- Senator Angus King (ME) and Senator Bernie Sanders (VT) -- are included in the analysis and coded as Democrats.