10 numbers to know about the money in the #PA18 special election

Significant amounts of campaign cash are flowing into southwestern Pennsylvania ahead of Tuesday’s special election in what has become a hotly contested race in the state’s 18th Congressional District.

The race pits Democrat Conor Lamb against Republican Rick Saccone — although outside groups have been doing most of the spending in the district that President Donald Trump carried by 20 percentage points in November 2016.

Here’s what you need to know about the money flowing into this election. Moreover, with spending continuing through Tuesday, many of these figures could rise even higher.

NEW: Approximately $18 million has been invested in #PA18 special election, @IssueOneReform analysis of @FEC data shows. Outside groups account for about 70% of funds in the race — more than $12 million and counting https://t.co/pdOwSgHWiG pic.twitter.com/dyTLzatThV

— Michael Beckel (@mjbeckel) March 12, 2018

$18 million is the combined amount that candidates and other groups — including the political parties, super PACs and “dark money” groups — have so far invested in the special U.S. election in Pennsylvania’s 18th Congressional District.

$12 milion is the combined amount spent so far by non-candidate groups, i.e., the political party committees, super PACs and “dark money” groups.

$4.2 million is the approximate amount that Democrat Conor Lamb has raised for his official campaign committee.

$1.2 million is the approximate amount that Republican Rick Saccone has raised for his official campaign committee.

4 is the number of conservative outside groups that have spent more than $1 million in the special election in Pennsylvania’s 18th Congressional District: the National Republican Congressional Committee ($3.5 million), the Congressional Leadership Fund super PAC ($3.4 million), the Republican National Committee ($1.3 million) and the America First Action super PAC ($1.1 million). No liberal outside groups have spent more than $1 million.

3-to-1 is the approximate ratio by which Lamb’s official campaign committee has out-raised Saccone’s campaign committee.

6-to-1 is the approximate ratio by which pro-Saccone outside groups — including the NRCC, RNC and the Congressional Leadership Fund super PAC — have collectively out-spent pro-Lamb outside groups.

2-to-1 is the approximate ratio by which Saccone and his allies have collectively outspent Lamb and his allies.

70 percent is the approximate portion of spending by outside groups in Pennsylvania’s 18th Congressional District that has been on negative ads.

2 is the number of candidates in the race who are benefitting from “dark money” spending. Conservative groups that don’t disclose their donors have spent about $1.1 million aiding Republican Rick Saccone and liberal groups that don’t disclose their donors have spent about $500,000 aiding Democrat Conor Lamb.

Source: Issue One analysis of Federal Election Commission data.