More Money, More Problems: “Republicans Want Self-Funders to Run for Senate. Their Record is Far From Stellar.”

As Senate Republicans attempt to recruit the “filthy rich,” new reporting from The Messenger details how “the path to the Senate is littered with failed candidates who poured tens of millions of dollars into their campaigns” as history shows that wealth exposes candidates to “embarrassing disclosures and personal attacks.” 

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The Messenger: Republicans Want Self-Funders to Run for Senate. Their Record is Far From Stellar.
Rich people love running for office. But campaigns can expose these candidates to embarrassing disclosures and personal attacks
By Dan Merica
June 15, 2023

• Few things make political operatives more excited about a candidate than finding a self-funder — that is, a personally wealthy candidate who can foot the bill for their own campaign.

• The track record of such self-funding candidates, however, is far less sterling and demonstrates the hubris of thinking money can paper over voters’ skepticism.

• The path to the Senate is littered with failed candidates who poured tens of millions of dollars into their campaigns. In 2020 and 2022, not a single Senate candidate who gave their own campaign over $1 million won their seat.
  

• The reasons wealthy candidates lose are numerous and complex. In some cases, the candidates attempt to use a cash advantage to camouflage a lack of genuine support, oftentimes looking to quell grassroots dissension in the primary only to be overwhelmed in the general election. In other cases, opposing campaigns use these candidates’ wealth to paint them as out of touch or looking to “buy” a Senate seat.
  
  
• Additionally, many self-funded candidates attempt to take on incumbents, many of whom have broad donor networks, proven electoral appeal, and significant structural advantages in running for reelection.

• “Like the failed self-funders before them, these potential GOP Senate candidates are going to learn the meaning of the expression ‘more money, more problems,’” said Nora Keefe, spokeswoman for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign committee.
  
  
• Money in politics certainly helps, but the history of self-funding candidates – especially in 2022 – shows that wealth exposes candidates to unique and personal attacks that many have found difficult to rebut.

See also: POLITICO: Senate Republicans recruiting the “filthy rich”.

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