76% of Political Fundraising Bashes Take Place within 3 Blocks of the U.S. Capitol

Wednesday, September 18, 2013
Capitol Hill Club

When not doing the people’s business, lawmakers on Capitol Hill need only walk a few blocks to collect huge sums of money at nearby fundraising events.

 

In fact, 76% of all political fundraisers in Washington, DC, take place within three city blocks of the U.S. Capitol, according to the Sunlight Foundation, a nonpartisan watchdog group.

 

The organization also identified the top 10 most popular DC venues where special interests pay handsomely to support—and bend the ear—of senators and representatives.

 

By far the most popular venue is The Capitol Hill Club, a purely Republican site that plays host to nearly 2,000 fundraising parties per year. A distant second is Johnny’s Half Shell, which entertains 861 bashes annually—two-thirds for Democrats and a third for Republicans.

 

The other eight top locations are: Charlie Palmer Steak, National Democratic Club Townhouse, Bistro Bis, Sonoma Restaurant and Wine Bar, Tortilla Coast, The Monocle Restaurant, Democratic National Headquarters and National Republican Senatorial Committee.

 

The 10 venues account for 44% of all DC fundraisers.

 

Some locales cater heavily to Republicans, while others handle mostly Democratic events (see National Democratic Club Townhouse).

 

Only one of the top 10 venues hosted an event for independents. The Monocle Restaurant hosted one such event.

-Noel Brinkerhoff

 

To Learn More:

Partying for Dollars: Mapping Five Years of Political Fundraisers (by Ben Chartoff, Sunlight Foundation)

Political Party Time (Sunlight Foundation)

Both Parties Flood House Financial Services Committee with Freshmen to Raise Campaign Funds (by Noel Brinkerhoff, AllGov)       

Big Campaign Donors are an Extremely Elite Breed (by Noel Brinkerhoff, AllGov)         

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