Big Money From Communications/Electronics Sector

According to the Center for Responsive Politics, Sen Charles Schumer (D-NY) so far has received the most financial support from the communications and electronics sector this election cycle. The top 10 congressional recipients of contributions from the communications and electronics sector are all Democrats. Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., who is in a tight race for re-election, came in second behind Schumer, taking in roughly $700,000. Despite playing a major role in crafting tech and telecom legislation, House Energy and Commerce Communications Subcommittee Chairman Rick Boucher, D-Va., came in tenth place with nearly $360,000. None of the leaders of the Senate Commerce Committee and its Communications Subcommittee, which have jurisdiction over communications issues, made the top 20 list. On the House side, however, Commerce Chairman Committee Henry Waxman (D-CA) ranked 17th, with $231,000 in contributions from the communications and electronics sector. In total, the communications/electronics sector has given close to $58 million this campaign cycle with 65 percent going to Democrats and 34 percent going to Republicans.