Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky.

Nothing can stop the partying.

That’s the message presented by our friend Dave Levinthal at the Center for Public Integrity, who recently wrote a piece chronicling lawmakers and their never-ending quest for cash — no matter the circumstances. The third week of April saw numerous tragedies unfold, but that didn’t stop politicians from bombarding supporters with fundraising emails and attending swanky soirees. Levinthal gives examples of messages sent out during the week, like the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (“Tomorrow is our ad buy deadline in the South Carolina special election“), Obama’s non-profit Organizing for Action (“Let’s keep fighting for change. Chip in $5 or more to support Organizing for Action today“) and others. The Party Time calendar also showed 23 fundraisers including parties for Democratic S.C. hopeful Elizabeth Colbert Busch and for Sens. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., Kelly Ayotte, R-N.H., Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., and John Cornyn, R-Texas, all of whom had multiple events that week. It just goes to show you that Congress will party on and no one can stop them — the Beastie Boys would be proud.

Now back to your usually scheduled partying. Since Congress’ spring bre- er we mean, “District Word Period” is over, the lawmakers is back in the District and ready to party at their peak once again. PT has the highlights below:

GOP Senators Double Up
Either Sens. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., and Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, are saving up enough money to take over the entire world, or they’re in some kind of political contest. Both are debt-free yet have been partying at astonishing rates — Crapo has 17 funders scheduled in 2013 while Alexander has 15! Alexander’s interest in the party circuit is obvious: He’s up for reelection next year. Crapo won’t face the voters till 2016, but he might have an interest in helping Republicans win back control of the Senate, putting him in line to be chairman of the Banking Committee, a la another one of our favorite Party Time animals.

Alexander’s campaign gets a kick start on May 9 when he’ll be hosting two events to stuff his campaign coffers. That morning Alexander will be at a breakfast — not at a restaurant where most people would generally eat food, but at the Capitol Hill townhouse of Fluor, a construction and engineering company. Seems an odd place for a meal. Just three hours later, he’ll go more conventional with a noon lunch at the Monocle Restaurant. You too can attend both events for the low price of $2,500 PAC or $1,000 personal.

Meanwhile, Crapo’s Freedom Fund is freaking out with funders, and this week Crapo’s holding two more events benefiting his liberty-themed leadership PAC. On Monday, he’ll be at a Financial Services Industry Dinner at Mexican joint Rosa Mexicano (which PT mistakenly thought was a host at first; we obviously aren’t getting enough money to dine at Mexican restaurants of the expense account variety). No hosts are listed, but expect many Wall Street types here — securities and investments has been the biggest industry to contribute to Crapo over his career. Following this is a Young Professionals Reception on Thursday, priced at a young-person-friendly $250-$100. Unless you’re a young person with a PAC, which will cost $1,000.

Friends Don’t Let Friends Fundraise Alone
If you’re serious about political partying (as PT is of course), then you should check out a new paper using PT data by Yale professor Eleanor Neff Powell entitled “Dollars to Votes: The Influence of Fundraising in Congress.” Sunlight’s Lee Drutman covered the major themes if you don’t have time for the full paper, but Powell found members of Congress who headline events for other members get something in return — surprise! — votes for their legislation! And guess what else — the calendar shows two cases just this week of pols helping pols party.

First up, a Wednesday reception for Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-La., headlined by Sen. Barbara Mikulski, D-Md. Mikulski is chair of the powerful Appropriations Committee, of which Landrieu is a member, and can lend some powerful support to Landrieu’s challenging campaign in solid-red Louisiana. But she won’t be the only one there; several PACs representing tech businesses and unions will be on hand to host the festivities. To join the crowd, contribute either $2,500 or $1,000.

Later on that evening, Rep. Lois Capps, D-Calif., will be enlisting the help of fellow lawmaker Rep. Frank Pallone, D-N.J., at a dinner on Capitol Hill. On the invite Capps calls Pallone both a “colleague and friend,” and friends don’t let friends fundraise alone. Tickets to this dinner range from $5,000 to $1,000.

2016 Preview Pt. 2 at the Iowa GOP Dinner?

Tonight the S.C. GOP is holding its annual Silver Elephant Dinner, featuring potential presidential candidate Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, as the party’s guest speaker. Well, Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., another possible White House successor, tried and failed to get that gig — but he did land the Iowa Republican Party’s 2013 Lincoln Dinner! Tickets to this annual fete cost $450 for a table, $150 for a VIP entree and $50 for a regular ticket. It’s no coincidence that Iowa happens to be an important early voting state in presidential elections, with its spectacular straw poll and all. It’s going to be a packed house next Friday, so hopefully Paul doesn’t blow the dinner speech  – and with it his 2016 chances. After all, it’s practically presidential campaign season — in Iowa at least.

Enjoy the Kentucky Derby, and until next time, Partiers.

Party Animal Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn.

Early this morning, the Committee Formerly Known As Obama’s Campaign, Organizing for Action, reported hauling in just under $4.9 million for the first quarter of 2013, an amount that the Los Angeles Times dubbed “a modest debut.” What a world we live in where $5 million dollars is considered “modest” and not “an absurdly gargantuan mountain of cash.” What’s even more impressive is that OFA started late into the cycle, missing an entire month as the committee transitioned from a campaign to the non-profit “social welfare” group it is now. It’s worth noting that the group had 109,582 unique contributors with an average donation of $44 — however, OFA did solicit gifts up to $500,000.

While OFA continues to rake in the cash, Congress is also partying hard as the 2014 campaign season gets into gear. We’ve flipped the calendar on our Follow the Unlimited Money tracker and you can see why by checking the number of new campaign committees that have popped up just since the first of the year. This week features funders benefitting S.C. congressional hopeful Elizabeth Colbert Busch, GOP darling Rand Paul and more.

Colbert and Colbert Team Up Again
Democratic candidate Elizabeth Colbert Busch has proven herself to be a formidable fundraiser capable of competing with her Republican rival Mark Sanford, a former governor and former congressman, in special election for an open South Carolina congressional seat. And now she’s upped her game. Talk about a lengthy VIP list — this “Colberts United” event on Monday features 41 lawmakers! The attendees include (drum roll, please): DCCC Chairman Rep. Steve Israel, D-N.Y., House minority whip Rep. Steny Hoyer, D-Md., Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., DNC head Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Fla., and Gov. Martin O’Malley, D-Md. Additional hosts include high-powered Democratic lobbyist Tony Podesta and his brother, liberal think tank czar John Podesta — and we haven’t even mentioned that big brother Stephen Colbert will be there! The massive party takes place at B. Smith’s inside Union Station, and guests will have to fork over $10,000 to get in. So much for Colbert Busch being a D.C. outsider…

Rand Rakes It In
Current Republican starlet Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., is cashing in on his surge in popularity with a breakfast on Thursday. Although he stumbled through “a polite but tough reception“ at Howard University earlier this week, Paul is hoping to right the ship in a more welcoming atmosphere — the law offices of Covington and Burling in downtown D.C. The fundraising breakfast will cost PACs $1,000 and individuals $500.

Women Win at Klobuchar’s Funder
Hurray for women! Especially women that help you raise campaign money! Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., is hosting her Annual Women Winning Breakfast this year on Wednesday morning — early on Wednesday morning. The start time was pushed back to 7:30 AM — but don’t worry, Klobuchar promises “we’ll have enough coffee to go around!” The host committee is packed with winning women , such as top lobbyists Linda Daschle, Susan Buck, Daniella Landau and more. The event is located at the law firm McGuire Woods — right on K Street. For guests that would like to take part in the winning, they’ll have to lose anywhere from $2,600 to $500.

Alaska Lt. Gov. Eyes Senate Seat
One of the most vulnerable senators in 2014 will be Mark Begich, D-Alaska — he barely won in 2008 and is facing stiff competition from the right in 2014. Popping up on the official National Republican Senatorial Committee fundraising list is the state’s lieutenant governor, Mead Treadwell, who is weighing a challenge against Begich. It appears he’s more than just thinking about it now, hosting a “Birthday Celebration and Meet + Greet” on Friday at the Westin in D.C. Although the invite states “No donations are requested,” the very next sentence solicits “voluntary contributions up to $2,600″ — sounds like a request to PT! The guests that do donate will benefit the Treadwell for Alaska Exploratory Committee. The question now is will he or won’t he; the number of donations on Friday may help answer that question.

Alexander Continues Partying Hard
With 10 funders planned in 2013, Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., is officially a party animal. And this week he’s not letting up, holding two events for his campaign committee. The first is a dinner on Tuesday at the brand new Osteria Elisir in downtown Washington. (It’s so authentic, you can even view the menu in Italian — oh wait, all it does is take the website and put it through Google translate.) Hosting the dinner will be Andy Mekelburg, VP of Government Relations at Verizon, Jay Perron, VP of Governmental Affairs at the International Franchise Association, and former Chamber of Commerce lobbyist Katie Hays. Tickets will cost $2,000 across the board.

The second funder for Alexander is a Thursday breakfast most likely inside the offices of Locke Lord Bissell and Liddell, a multi-national lawfirm. The firm’s political committee as well as Healthways Inc. will be hosting the event, which will run PACs up to $2,500 and humans up to $1,000. Alexander’s torrid party schedule has been paying off as well — his campaign’s already crossed the $1 million mark!

Check the calendar for the full slate of events. Until next time, Partiers.

Sure, there’s a new pope and he’s very humble and nice and all, but Party Time is more excited for the return of another nearly omnipotent figure — the Partier-In-Chief! Yes, President and heavyweight champion fundraiser Barack Obama is back, heading West for a Democratic gold rush in early April. The swing will retire some DNC debt and generate some cash for the DCCC as it launches into the 2014 midterm battle. Buzzfeed obtained an email sent by Bay Area Democrats Chair Wade Randlett describing the events: An April 4 brunch with a remarkable $32,000 price tag, as well as a lunch later that day that costs as much as $20,000. It seems like Obama hasn’t lost his touch — in fact, he looks better than ever.

But let’s not get ahead of ourselves here; next week alone offers a bevy of quality parties to check out. See the highlights below.

Dingell raises funds with guns
After California Democratic Sen. Diane Feinstein’s verbal assault on Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, the Senate Judiciary Committee approved a full ban on assault weapons yesterday — so what better time to have a fundraiser featuring guns! Rep. John Dingell, D-Mich., will be having his Annual Pheasant Shoot on Monday in the small town of Boonsboro, Md. Dingell is an avid sportsman and vehemently pro-gun, receiving A+ ratings from the NRA. Prices are TBD, so if you’ve got the invite send it in here!

Cash Course for Crapo
Ever since Mormon Sen. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, had that small drunk driving incident earlier this year, he’s been lying low in Party Time (and everywhere else). But that respite appears over, as PT picked up on eight upcoming parties planned in 2013 for his leadership PAC Freedom Fund, three of which are happening next week. He’ll be starting out with a Tuesday breakfast at top international law firm Faegre Baker Daniels on K Street, costing up to $2,500/PAC and $1,000/individual. Two days later, Crapo will be doubling up. First, he’ll celebrate the annual NCAA tournament with a March Madness Kick Off at the townhouse of Diageo — oddly enough, the world’s biggest producer of alcoholic drinks (Guinness, Smirnoff, Bailey’s, Captain Morgan, etc.). Prices for that event are also $2,500/PAC and $1,000/individual. Later that day, Crapo (pronounced CRAY-POE) will rush to Ruth’s Chris Steak House for dinner, again at the same price point. With all this partying scheduled, maybe Crapo should pump the brakes a bit.

Barrasso’s boys club
It’s going to be a boys night out for Senate Republicans on Monday, as Wyoming’s John Barrasso hosts his Leadership Reception. Riding along in the “Bro-jan Horse” will be Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., as well as Sens. John Cornyn, R-Texas, John Thune, R-S.D., Roy Blunt, R-Mo., and Jerry Moran, R-Kan. It’s taking place right at the National Republican Senatorial Committee in Washington, D.C. and will run guests as much as $5,000/PAC and $2,500/individual. The event will be benefiting his leadership fund, Common Values PAC (apparently the only value they approve of having in common is conservatism). And don’t worry, girls are allowed — as long as they bring the entry fee.

GOP forgives, forgets and fundraises for DesJarlais
Talk about forgive and forget — House Republicans forgave, forgot and are now fundraising for embattled Rep. Scott DesJarlais, R-Tenn. Or at least some of them. As a practicing doctor, the pro-life, family-values oriented lawmaker encouraged not only his wife to have an abortion, but his mistress and patients as well, according to divorce proceedings. The controversy is apparently too much for one Republican, Minnesotan John Kline, who said this week he would not attend the event after originally lending his name to it. But other DesJarlais colleagues are evidently on board to help Tuesday at the Capitol Hill Club, such as House Oversight Committee Chair Darrell Issa, Calif., and Agriculture Committee Chair Rep. Frank Lucas, Okla., as well as Reps. Jim Jordan, Ohio, Tom Price, Ga., and Steve Scalise, La. The price to let everyone know you’ve truly forgiven DesJarlais is $1,000/PAC and $500/individual.

#Stand (and #fundraise) with Rand
Fresh off his filiblizzard of now-CIA Director John Brennan, Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., will be capitalizing on all that attention with a Reception and Dinner on Tuesday. It’s located at the UPS townhouse, and transportation industry groups like BNSF RailPAC are hosting. Also on the host committee are eye-popping groups like the National Association for Gun Rights (which sits to the right of the NRA, and has contributed to Paul before) and the PAC of the infamous nonprofit group Citizens United. And don’t forget the power lobbyists like Doyce Boesch, Kirk Blalock and Hunter Bates. If you’d like to stand with Rand, and use him as your personal sounding board, just pony up $5,000 per PAC or $2,500 per person.

Paul Ryan makes a “Schocking” appearance
Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis., released a new budget proposal that “changed the conversation” on fixing America’s economy… according to Paul Ryan. If you’d like to hear Ryan talk about his game-changing policies, catch him stumping for conservative young gun Rep. Aaron Schock, R-Ill., at his Reception and Dinner on March 21. It takes place at the Five Points Washington — Washington, Illinois, that is. The fundraiser exhibits how highly the former VP candidate thinks of Schock — Ryan’s been in high demand since the election, but has largely stayed off the party circuit. Plus it’s only $250 to get in — all the more reason to attend.

In case you missed it
Mr. Indecision A.K.A. Newark Mayor Cory Booker also has three events this week benefiting his Senate campaign committee, but PT already covered his fundraising explosion with a detailed stand-alone post here. Also make sure to read up the surge of fundraisers for lawmakers involved in the debate over immigration reform, featuring corporate-sponsored funders for the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, members of the “Gang of 8″ and more.

Until next time, Partiers!

Photo courtesy of Pete Souza via Wikimedia Commons

Thanksgiving has come and gone, and Black Friday has launched that super-commercialized door-busting retail onslaught, also known as the holiday season. Much like shoppers rushing out at 4 a.m. to snag the best deals, politicians are hustling in the weeks after Election Day to throw parties and raise some serious holiday dough.

Check out the highlights below, and send us your invites here!

2014, Start Your Engines
If you thought you were safe from political campaigning, think again. Some politicians have already started preparing for their 2014 bids, beginning with some old fashioned partying. Class II Senators Saxby Chambliss, R-Ga., and Jim Inhofe, R-Okla., are both hosting fundraisers in the upcoming week, despite their elections being two years away.

Chambliss is making his desire clear with the “Quarterly Max-Out Reception,” not so subtly suggesting that donors contribute as much as they can to the campaign. The suggested price for this Monday event at the Capitol Hill Club is $5,000 for PACs and $2,500 for individuals, the maximum amount allowed for one election cycle. What a coincidence!

Inhofe is celebrating his birthday with style at the “Annual Joe’s Stone Crab Reception” on Wednesday. For as much as $2,500 or as little as $500, you too can enjoy Florida stone crab right here in D.C! (But that’s not as impressive as it sounds, however, as the crab can be found in places like Texas and Connecticut…) The event name refers to the famous Joe’s Stone Crab restaurant in Miami Beach, which is turning 100 next year. If you can’t make it to the party but still want some tasty crab, you’re in luck – Joe’s delivers all across the continental U.S.

Lose Some, Lose Some More
For Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul, R, Election Day didn’t go as planned. His political committee, RANDPAC, bet against all the wrong candidates, resulting in a total success rate of 0% – and a loss of $500,000. Check the races he influenced (or tried to) below from Follow the Unlimited Money:

Ouch, that hurts. Perhaps to offset these losses, Paul will be hosting a luncheon on Nov. 29 at fundraising favorite Johnny’s Half Shell. Admission will cost up to $5,000 to sponsor, up to $2,500 to host, and up to $1,000 to attend. Just 500 attendees and he’ll be in the clear!

Debt Retirement Alert
Tea Party favorite Ted Cruz, R-Texas, recently prevailed in his Senate race, and now he needs to pay off some of that burdensome campaign debt – about $1.2 million of it. To accomplish this, Cruz is doubling up on Wednesday, hosting a $2,000 “Debt Retirement Reception” followed by a $5,000 “Debt Retirement Dinner” with a special guest, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky. Party Time covered the world of debt retirement fundraisers earlier this month – check it out!

Crapo Does Double Time
Senior Idaho Sen. Mike Crapo (it’s pronounced “Cray-poe”!) isn’t taking an extended Thanksgiving break, getting right back to his busy Washington schedule – of partying, that is. Crapo is pulling a double ‘draiser, hosting two benefits on Tuesday. He’ll fill up with a $2,000/$1,000 lunch, take an afternoon siesta, and then head over to Charlie Palmer’s for a dinner at the same price point. If Crapo is still eating that much food soon after a Thanksgiving meal, maybe he deserves the money.

Just like Black Friday has encroached upon other holidays, with some stores this year opening at 8 p.m. on Thanksgiving, fundraising season is chewing up more of the political calendar — just ask Mitch McConnell, who held a $2,500 dinner the night after the election.

Perhaps lawmakers should follow the “Buy Nothing Day” movement, an international day of protest against high-octane consumerism, and chill their fundraising efforts. Activities of Buy Nothing Day include: The Whirl-Mart, where participants silently steer their shopping carts around a store in a “long, baffling conga line” without putting anything in them; and the Zombie Walk, where people wander around malls staring at shoppers with a blank expression on their face. I have a feeling that some politicians wouldn’t be so bad at that last one.

Until next time, Partiers!

An upcoming Washington, D.C. fundraiser for former Rep. Mark Neumann, R-Wis., who is running for the open Senate seat in Wisconsin, is hosted by a biotechnology lobbyist with ties to GOP presidential candidate Jon Huntsman. Sens. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., and Rand Paul, R-Ky., are listed as special guests. Both senators have endorsed Neumann.

This is the first DC-based fundraising invitation Party Time has received for Neumann, who ran and lost a bid for the gubernatorial race in 2010. He will likely face Democratic candidate Rep. Tammy Baldwin in the general election next year, which is considered a toss up, despite Baldwin’s large fundraising advantage. Neumann is expected to get extra help from outside conservative interests.

The lobbyist hosting the fundraiser,  Allen Shofe, works for the firm Emergent Biosolutions, and reportedly does congressional outreach for Huntsman. He was one of a long list of hosts for a June 15 Washington, D.C. event raising money for Horizon PAC, a political action committee that has been linked to the presidential candidate, although the campaign claims it is not connected. In the past, Shofe has hosted fundraisers for Sen. Scott Brown, R.-Mass., and other Republicans and Shofe has worked for drug company Eli Lilly and tobacco interests. He did not return a call for comment.

Baldwin recently had a joint fundraiser with Democratic Massachusetts candidate Elizabeth Warren.

Note: The original version of this post mistakenly stated that Sen. Tom Coburn represented Maryland.

For freshman members of Congress looking to expand their influence in the legislature establishing a leadership PAC is a well-travelled route. Of the 12 freshmen Republicans in the Senate, nine have formed leadership PACs (although four of those Republicans did so during their terms as House Members). Only Sens. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., Marco Rubio, R-Fla., and Pat Toomey, R-Pa., have yet to form a leadership PAC. Party Time has received invitations to several events benefitting these various PACs, two of which are scheduled for this week.

Tomorrow evening, Rand Paul’s, R-Ky., leadership PAC (RAND PAC), will be at the offices of R.B. Murphy and Associates for cocktails and dinner. The fundraiser will be hosted by a number of lobbyists and PACs including Hunter Bates, who was once chief of staff to Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky. The Senate Minority Leader himself will also be at the dinner. This is the first event invitation in the Party Time records to feature both Kentucky senators since Paul was elected.  Suggested contributions for the RAND PAC event run from $500 to $2,500.

The following night of June 29, Kelly PAC, the leadership PAC of Sen. Kelly Ayotte, R-N.H., will be holding a Defense Industry Dinner at Bobby Van’s Grill. Details on the invitation are few so it is unknown which representatives of the “defense industry” will be present, but Sen. Ayotte has been building her national defense gravitas since arriving in the Senate in January.  Her leadership PAC, established in February, has been holding regular events since May. Listed contributions range from $500 for an individual to $2,000 for a PAC co-host.

*Correction: This post was updated after it was discovered that McConnell hosted a fundraiser for Paul during his senatorial campaign.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., is hosting a fundraising reception and dinner tonight for GOP Senate candidate and tea party favorite Rand Paul, who is in a close race with Bluegrass State Attorney General Jack Conway.

McConnell and Paul have had a prickly public relationship, with McConnell backing the establishment candidate (and hosting fundraisers) in the primary, and urging Paul to stay off national television after the candidate criticized the 1964 Civil Rights Act.

On the invitation to tonight’s event, McConnell “cordially invites” donors to attend the reception, where the suggested donation is $2,000-per-PAC and $1,000-per-person, and dinner, where PACs can be “Grand Hosts” for $5,000 or host the event for $4,000. The backdrop is the Monocle, a Capitol Hill eatery frequently used for fundraisers.

After vowing not to accept money from lawmakers who voted for the 2008 bank bailout, Paul’s campaign announced a change of heart last month. McConnell was one of many lawmakers to host a Paul fundraiser at the National Republican Senatorial Committee.

Paul has been mixing grassroots-type fundraisers with high-roller events. On a stop in New York City earlier this month, he held $1,000-per-plate event at the Harvard Club with Steve Forbes, then joined supporters at Webstar Hall, where the minimum contribution was $20. Paul’s campaign has also relied heavily on online fundraising, making use of one-day “moneybomb” drives, which netted him nearly $1 million over just three days during his primary bid.

In the second quarter, Paul raised $1.1 million to Conway’s $1.4 million, though Conway injected $400,000 of his own money. In total, Conway has brought in $3.7 million to Paul’s $3.6 million, according to the Center for Responsive Politics.

After 29 years as the senator from Pennsylvania, Arlen Specter was voted out by Democratic primary voters yesterday in favor of a two-term House member, Rep. Joe Sestak, who currently represents the state’s 7th congressional district. Sestak will now face Republican and former U.S. Rep. Pat Toomey for the seat in November.

Five Hundred miles away in the Kentucky senate race, Republican tea party candidate Rand Paul bested Trey Grayson, the secretary of state who won the endorsement of Sen. Mitch McConnell, the top Republican in the Senate. Paul, the son of Rep. Ron Paul of Texas, will face Democrat Jack Conway, the state’s attorney general, for the seat in November.

In Arkansas, moderate Democrat Blanche Lincoln must continue to fight for her Senate seat, as results from the state’s Democratic primary have found no clear majority against Lt. Gov. Bill Halter for the party’s nomination. The two will face-off in a runoff election on June 8th.

Other notable results:

Democrat Mark Critz won a special election for the open seat of late Congressman John Murtha for the remaining seven months of Murthas term for Pennsylvania’s 12th Congressional District. Critz recently held a fundraiser at Lounge 201 in Washington D.C., according to Party Times list of invites. In attendance were Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Chairman Chris Van Hollen, and the Pennsylvania Democratic Delegation.

Democrat U.S. Rep. Paul Kanjorski, of the 11th congressional district of Pennsylvania, moves on to battle his Republican challenger, Hazleton, Pa., mayor Lou Barletta in the November ballot. According to Party Time invites, Kanjorski has held eight fundraisers since the beginning of the year, the latest was a May 12 fundraiser at the Sonoma Restaurant and Wine Bar, where for $5,000, people could host the event and for $1,000 they could attend. There is only one invite in Party Times files for Lou Barletta, an October 2008 fundraiser at the Capital Grille.

Republican Congressman Charlie Dent easily defeated tea party challenger Mat Benol and will face Democrat John Callahan for Pennsylvania’s 15th Congressional District in November. Since January, Dent has held 10 fundraisers, according to Party Time invites. He also has a fundraiser planned for May 25th, to celebrate his Big 50th Birthday with special guests. For $1,500, political action committees can participate and for $750 individuals can wish him a happy half-century.

Republican Rick Crawford won the GOP nominee for the 1st congressional district of Arkansas against Princella Smith, who at 26, hoped to become the youngest member of congress. Crawford faces a Democratic challenger who won’t be decided until a June 8th run-off election. Contenders will likely include Tim Wooldridge and Chad Causey.

The candidates for the Kentucky Senate seat to be vacated by Sen. Jim Bunning are campaigning down to the wire a day ahead of the Kentucky primary on Tuesday.

On the Republican side, Kentucky Secretary of State Trey Grayson and ophthalmologist Rand Paul, have raised about $2.7 million each, according to the Center for Responsive Politics. Grayson has about $820,000 remaining, while Rand Paul, the son of Texas Rep. Ron Paul, has about $169,000.

Grayson has the support of Sen. Mitch McConnell, Kentucky’s other Senator and the top Senate Republican, as well as former 2008 presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani. Meanwhile, Paul has the support of tea party activists, former vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin, and Sen. Jim Bunning, who announced in July 2009 that he was dropping out of the race due to difficulties raising funds and conflicts with McConnell.

On the Democratic side, Kentucky Attorney General Jack Conway and Kentucky Lt. Gov. Daniel Mongiardo are duking it out. Conway has the most funding at more than $2.6 million, while Mongiardo has raised about $2 million.

Party Time has three fundraisers for Republican candidate Trey Grayson on file. The latest was a breakfast in late February at the lobbying firm DC Navigators with McConnell as a special guest. For $1,000 a political action committee could attend and for $500 an individual could participate.

McConnell has also stumped for Grayson in November 2009, at a fundraising lunch hosted by lobbyists including Charlie Grizzle, who represents the East Kentucky Power Cooperative and the Louisville Regional Airport Authority, among others. Also hosting the event was lobbyist Brandon Kirkham, who represents Marathon Oil, and lobbyist Todd Walker, who represents Altria Client Services Inc., the parent company of Phillip Morris USA. For $1,000 a political action committee could attend the event, and for $500 an individual could attend.

Grayson also had the backing of Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, at a fundraising dinner at Johnny’s Half Shell also in November 2009. One of the event hosts was the Pfizer Political Action Committee.

There are no fundraisers on file for the other candidates, but that doesnt mean they aren’t happening. If you know of one please consider uploading it to us anonymously here.