Elections

Success of CULAC/League-supported Candidates

CUNA and Leagues participated, via CULAC donations, in 359 of the 435 House races yesterday. As of this afternoon, we had won 333, lost 21, and four are yet to be determined, for a success rate of at least 93%. In the Senate we participated in 32 of 35 races, and won 25, lost three, and four are still outstanding.

Races of Note

PA-11 (Kanjorski)
Of particular note is our successful effort to reelect credit union champion and CURIA author Rep. Paul Kanjorski (D-PA). CUNA worked closely with the Pennsylvania Credit Union Association and credit unions in the 11th Pennsylvania District on an aggressive field and communications plan that included volunteer phone bankers and canvassers as well as five direct mail pieces sent to over 24,000 credit union members per piece under the guise of partisan communication.

KS-2 (Jenkins)
In a first for CULAC and credit unions, we engaged in a successful independent expenditure campaign challenging an incumbent Member of Congress. Rep. Nancy Boyda (D) had written a letter to the Kansas Credit Union Association (KCUA) praising banking trade groups and responding negatively to Kansas credit unions' efforts on behalf of CUBTRA earlier this year. KCUA endorsed State Treasurer Lynn Jenkins (R), a longtime credit union supporter, in her challenge to Boyda. CULAC spent nearly $200,000 on radio and television ads and was one of the only major third party players in the race. Boyda's defeat by Jenkins was one of only four Democratic incumbents to lose in the nation.

Other Important Races

• CULAC's independent expenditure effort on behalf of state Rep. Judy Baker (D) in MO-9 against banker Blaine Leutkemeyer was unsuccessful in this heavily Republican district.

• In MN-3, the Minnesota Credit Union Network and CULAC were successful in helping state Rep. Erik Paulsen (R) defeat Ashwin Madia (D), who at one point considered taxing credit unions to pay for a small business tax credit.

• CUNA, the Michigan Credit Union League and three Michigan credit unions engaged in a partisan communication campaign consisting of three mailings in CURIA cosponsor Rep. Joe Knollenberg's loss to Democrat Gary Peters in MI-9.

• The two CURIA cosponsors in the Senate facing reelection, Sens. Mary Landrieu (D-LA) and Susan Collins (R-ME), were both re-elected.

• CURIA cosponsor Rep. Mark Udall (D) was elected to the U.S. Senate in Colorado, while CURIA cosponsor Rep. Steve Pearce (R) was unsuccessful in his bid for the U.S. Senate in New Mexico.

CULAC Financials

We are pleased to report that as of Election Day, CULAC had raised a record $3.87 million in the 2007-2008 cycle, and had a cash-on-hand balance of $95,373.05. Our disbursements to candidates this cycle totaled over $2.8 million, and independent expenditures over $528,000. We anticipate hitting our $4 million election cycle goal for receipts in upcoming weeks.

Finally, thank you to everyone who has supported CULAC and credit union candidates in your states and around the nation. We would not have this level of success without your generosity and support.

Copyright © 2009 - Credit Union National Association, Inc.