Do Congressional Democrats and Republicans support their parties with funds that are effectively membership dues?
Both Democratic and Republican members of Congress support their parties through fundraising quotas.
While officially dues are not required, there is political pressure to comply, with parties rewarding successful fundraisers with powerful committee assignments.
Summarizing Issue One’s report on the subject, U.S. News and World Report wrote that during the 2018 election cycle, leading House committee members “directed 20% or more of their campaign expenses to national party committees,” with the top dues payer transferring $1.8 million to support other Republicans. It added that “parties rely heavily on membership dues to shore up funds, in part because current campaign rules place no limits on what a member can transfer to a party committee.”
Critics warn that the funding expectations distract members from governing while supporters hold that they allow funds to be channelled to newer members lacking pull with donors.