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Documenting the Political Partying Circuit
From the early hours of the morning until late in the evening, politicians are partying. Sunlight's PARTY TIME can help you find out who is partying, where and when.

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2010 Elections competitive races • POSTED - 09.27.10 BY Nancy Watzman

Ninety fundraisers scheduled over next two weeks

Ninety congressional fundraisers are planned over the next two weeks, including 34 for candidates running in close races, according to the Party Time database. The great majority of these events are in Washington, D.C. as candidates fundraise furiously during the last few days of this session. Party Time has logged 364 planned fundraisers since the start of September, and continues to add new fundraising invitations to the database as we receive them. Click here to see them all. To see a list of upcoming parties for candidates in close races, see below.

Some notable examples include:

  • Tomorrow Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., headlines this reception for David Schweikert, running in a closely contested race for Arizona’s fifth district.  Schweikert is one of the National Republican Campaign Committee’s (NRCC) “young guns,” selected for special help with fundraising and support, who also has the support of the Arizona Tea Party. His Democratic opponent, Rep. Harry Mitchell, will be raising cash at this reception on Sept. 30.
  • Tomorrow Republican and Tea Party candidate Ken Buck, who is challenging Sen. Michael Bennet, D-Colo., fundraises at this reception at the National Republican Senatorial Campaign Committee (NRSC). Senate  Minority Leader Mitch McConnell R-Ky., and NRSC Chairman John Cornyn, R-Texas, are among the GOP Senate heavyweights headlining the event. The race has drawn some of the largest independent expenditures to date.
  • Several senators who are not up for re-election this year have planned fundraisers for their leadership PACs, likely to raise cash to spread around to other candidates who are facing tight races. Today Senate Majority Whip Jon Kyl, R-Ariz., raises cash at this dinner for his Senate Majority Fund. Hosts include lobbyists representing the American Bankers Association, US Oncology, and Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold, as well as the National Mining Association PAC.
  • Tomorrow, Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., is hosting this reception benefiting her America’s Leadership PAC at the offices of lobbying firm Cornerstone Government Affairs. Meanwhile, over at Charlie Palmer Steak, Sen. Ben Cardin, D-Md., is hosting a dinner for his LEG PAC. Other senators with leadership PAC fundraisers on tap include Sen. Saxby Chambliss, R-Ga., with this planned reception on October 6. Already passed is this breakfast on September 15 for KPAC, run by Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Texas.

Click here to download a spreadsheet of upcoming fundraisers for candidates in competitive races, based on Cook Report ratings.

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Partytime • POSTED - 11.12.09 BY Nancy Watzman

GOP insiders to fete Colorado’s Norton

Next Monday in a Capitol Hill townhouse, a long list of GOP insiders are hosting a luncheon fundraiser for Colorado Senate candidate Jane Norton.

They include lobbyist Judy Black, wife of Charles Black (and Norton’s brother in law), who was a top advisor to Sen. John McCain in his presidential bid; member-of- Congress-turned-lobbyist Susan Molinari; and Maria Cino, who helped organize the 2008 Republican convention.

Many eyes are on the Colorado race, which will pit Norton, a former lieutenant governor, against the winner of a contested Democratic primary between Sen. Michael Bennet and Andrew Romanoff, who was speaker of the Colorado House before being term-limited out.

Norton is running with an anti-Washington message. At a forum for the GOP Senate candidates in Colorado Tuesday night, she said, “The very heart and soul of who we are as Americans is being eroded. We’re seeing Washington’s giant hand grabbing everything in site,” reported the Denver Post.

But her ties in high GOP places, Norton has been collecting a substantial amount of cash–40 percent of her take–from outside the state, with Washington, DC being her second highest source of contributions geographically, according to the Center for Responsive Politics.

And this is not her first Washington fundraiser. In September, the Blacks hosted an event attended by about a dozen U.S. senators, reported the Denver Post.

Click on the names to see more information about other hosts for next Monday’s event: Becky Anderson; Sandy Brock,  wife of Bill Brock, a former member of Congress turned lobbyist; Marlene Calucci; Julie Cram; Missy Edwards; Peggy Ellis; Dorcas R. Hardy; Susan Hirschmann; Jennifer Jones; Susan Nelson; Rep. Ed Royce and his wife, Marie; and Pam Turner.

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PARTYFINDER™ Hints

Beneficiary: congressional candidate, lawmaker, or entity which collects funds raised at party

Host: person who is hosting party-often, but not always, a registered federal lobbyist

Venue Name: where the party is

Entertainment Type: type of gathering, such as "breakfast," "ski trip," "bowling"

Other Lawmakers Mentioned: lawmakers mentioned on invitation who are used as a draw for the event

Sunlight's Party Time is a project to track parties for members of Congress or congressional candidates that happen all year round in Washington, D.C. and beyond. (read more)

We also post information we receive about parties where members of Congress are expected to participate—such as convention or inaugural parties.

Since we don't hear about all the parties, you can also tell us if you know where the party is and we don't.