WASHINGTON _ Sen. Charles Schumer's campaign committee gave money to eight Senate candidates who could help Democrats win back majority control in November, according to Federal Election Commission reports.
Schumer's campaign contributed $500,000 each to Democrats in competitive Senate races in Indiana, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania and Nevada, Rochester Democrat and Chronicle reported. The Rothenberg & Gonzales Political Report/Roll Call rates all four as Tossup.
He also gave $250,000 to Senate candidates Missouri Secretary of State Jason Kander and former state Rep. Deborah Ross in North Carolina. The race in Missouri is rated as Tossup and the race in North Carolina is Tilts Republican.
Illinois candidate Tammy Duckworth and former Sen. Russ Feingold, who is seeking his old seat in Wisconsin, received $100,000 in donations. Both of these races are rated as Leans Democrat.
Donations of $50,000 each went to Senate candidates in Ohio, California and Colorado. Ohio is rated Favored Republican, but California and Colorado are both rated as Safe Democrat.
The Schumer campaign did not comment on why certain tight races received more money than others but if Democrats win the majority, Schumer is in line to become Senate majority leader.
Democrats need four net seats in the Senate and a win from Hillary Clinton in the presidential race to split the Senate 50-50. Vice President Tim Kaine would hold the tie-breaking vote for Democrats and would resign as a senator from Virginia. Democratic Gov. Terry McAuliffe would appoint Kaine's successor.
Schumer's campaign committee ended September with $20.5 million. He gave $3 million to the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee between July 1 and Sept. 30, as well.
His committee spent $7.69 million but only $1.49 million went to Schumer's safe re-election race. Roughly $6.19 million was donated to other campaigns and a couple of charities.
