It was clear weeks ago, but now it’s official: Georgia’s two new senators, Jon Ossoff and the Rev. Raphael Warnock, raised more money for their elections than any other congressional candidates in history.
Reports filed Thursday evening with the Federal Election Commission show Ossoff and Warnock raised totals of $162.6 million and $147.1 million, respectively, in their successful bids to oust Republican incumbents David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler. Both figures eclipsed the candidate with the third most contributions, South Carolina Democrat Jaime Harrison who raised an astounding $130.2 million in his defeat to incumbent Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham.
The unprecedented totals reported by the Georgia campaigns were due largely to the fact that both races were thrown into a runoff after no candidate for either seat received a majority of votes following the November general election. Donations poured into the state as it became clear that Democrats could take control of the Senate if they flipped both seats.
Warnock raised 70% of his total donations from mid-October to mid-December, the vast majority of that coming after the Nov. 3 general election. For Ossoff, 66% of his receipts came during the that same period.
The campaigns spent as quick as they raised. Ossoff’s campaign reported a total of $156.8 million spent. Warnock reported $144.3 million in spending for the cycle.