Armenian National Committee of America
888 17th St., NW, Suite 904
Washington, DC 20006
Tel: (202) 775-1918
Fax: (202) 775-5648
E-mail: anca@anca.org
Internet:
PRESS RELEASE
January 4, 2004
Contact: Elizabeth S. Chouldjian
Tel: (202) 775-1918
ARMENIAN AMERICAN CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS HIT ALL-TIME HIGH
— ANCA Study Reveals Well Over $5 Million in Donations
to Federal Candidates and Committees during 2004 Elections
WASHINGTON, DC – Armenian American campaign contributions hit a
record high this election cycle, with more than $3.9 million in
documented donations and an estimated $5 million in total campaign
contributions to federal level candidates and committees, according
to a study released today by the Armenian National Committee of
America (ANCA).
“These findings confirm what we see across the country every day:
the steady growth of Armenian American involvement in the American
political process – as campaign contributors, policy advocates,
party activists, and informed voters,” said ANCA Executive Director
Aram Hamparian. “Even more than in years past, the depth and scope
of Armenian American campaign contributions this election cycle
reflect our community’s broad reach across the political spectrum.”
Among the findings in the ANCA study of higher-level (over $200)
campaign donations by Armenian Americans with common Armenian
surnames:
* Federal candidates/committees: $3,942,106 (4754 donations)
* Republican candidates/committees: $1,506,706 (1548 donations)
George W. Bush: $347,105 (350)
Republican National Committee: $429,746 (209)
Nat’l Republican Congressional Committee: $139,699 (277)
Nat’l Republican Senatorial Committee: $23,740 (26)
* Democratic candidates/committees: $1,396,833 (1585 donations)
John Kerry: $336,578 (395)
John Edwards: $55,350 (59)
Howard Dean: $31,495 (71)
Wesley Clark: $17,500 (22)
Dick Gephardt: $15,500 (18)
Democratic Nat’l Committee: $121,718 (84)
Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee: $61,402 (14)
Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee: $40,857 (25)
Among the Members of Congress who received the highest levels of
campaign contributions from Armenian Americans were Armenian Caucus
Co-Chairs Rep. Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and Rep. Joe Knollenberg (R-
MI), Senate Majority Whip Mitch McConnell (R-KY), “Schiff
Amendment” author Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA), and Genocide Resolution
lead sponsor Rep. George Radanovich (R-CA).
Terms of the ANCA study:
The ANCA examined public records of contributions by donors with
common Armenian surnames in Federal Election Commission filings for
the first seven quarterly reporting periods of the 2004 election
cycle.
Left out of the study, for technical reasons, were two important
categories: 1) Armenian American donors who do not have common
Armenian last names and 2) Armenian American donors whose
contributions to a particular federal candidate or committee did
not aggregate to $200 during the 2004 election cycle. This latter
category covers a large number of smaller-dollar donors, including
many who contributed via the internet. While it is not possible to
compile totals for these two categories, they can safely be
estimated, based on past Armenian American giving patterns and
overall U.S. political campaign demographics, at over two million
dollars. Contributions to state and local candidates or committees
were not covered by this survey.