Since the Citizens United Supreme Court decision this spring, front groups representing the interests of corporations and wealthy Americans have been able to spend unlimited amounts in “independent expenditures” to influence congressional elections. As the 2010 election draws closer, more and more of that money is being spent. The contributors to these front groups are kept a secret from the American public, but the activity of the corporate groups themselves is released on a daily basis by the Federal Election Commission. The following is a summary of all independent expenditures made in congressional campaigns during the week of September 26 – October 2, 2010.

In the week of 9/26-10/2, $11,442,631 was spent in opposition to Democratic congressional candidates and $2,597,612 was spent in support of Republican congressional candidates, for a total of $14,040,243 spent to promote the Republican electoral cause (an increase of $3,145,804 over the previous week). On the other side, $1,297,923 was spent in support of Democratic congressional candidates and $5,782,944 was spent in opposition to Republican congressional candidates, for a total of $7,080,867 spent to promote the Democratic electoral cause (an increase of $2,584,937 over the previous week). The gap between pro-Republican and pro-Democratic independent expenditures grew from $6,398,509 the previous week to a $6,959,376 net advantage for Republicans.

$100,545 was spent by Our Community Votes for an ad opposing third-party candidate Doug Aden in Colorado’s 4th District. As was the case the week before, only one group — the National Realtors Association — made independent expenditures to support both Democrats and Republicans. All other groups were strictly partisan in their activities.

The Five Biggest Independent Expenditures in Congressional Races, Week of September 26 2010

1. $723,605 spent by Karl Rove’s American Crossroads on September 28 for a TV spot against Senate incumbent Michael Bennet, Democrat of Colorado.

2. $720,000 spent by the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee on September 28 for a TV spot against Bennet’s Republican challenger, Ken Buck.

3. $618,148 spent by Karl Rove’s American Crossroads on September 28 for a TV advertisement opposing Democratic Party candidate Alexi Giannoulias, who is running for Senate in Illinois.

4. $529,150 spent by the National Association of Realtors on September 27 to purchase TV time for an advertisement supporting incumbent House candidate Paul Kanjorski (D-PA 11). Kanjorski is the senior member of the House Financial Services Committee and chairman of the Capital Markets subcommittee.

5. $492,343 spent by Crossroads Grassroots Policy Strategies (an offshoot of Karl Rove’s American Crossroads) on September 28 to purchase a television advertisement opposing incumbent Senate Democrat Patty Murray of Washington State.

The Five Biggest Spenders in Independent Expenditures, Week of September 26 2010

1. National Republican Congressional Committee: $5,382,422 (R)
2. Karl Rove’s American Crossroads/Crossroads Grassroots: $3,522,033 (R)
3. Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee: $2,715,814 (D)
4. Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee: $2,675,220 (D)
5. National Association of Realtors: $1,800,238 (52% R / 48% D)