The D.C. fundraising blitz continues, with nearly 250 parties planned since the beginning of this month, according to the Party Time database. Of these more than 60 are scheduled over the next three weeks alone for candidates in tough races. (See spreadsheet below for full list of fundraisers for candidates in close races. To view all upcoming ones, click here.)

We will update this spreadsheet weekly in the run up to the election as a tool to track fundraising events for these races. To identify close races we’ve used analysis by the Cook Political Report.

Highlights include:

• On Tuesday, lobbyists for agricultural interests are hosting a breakfast for farmer Steve Fincher, who is running on the GOP ticket for a Tennessee open House seat. Hosts include the American Veterinary Medical Association PAC and lobbyists for the USA Rice Federation, the National Cotton Council, and another who represents the Georgia Peanut Commission and the Georgia Pecan Growers Association. Fincher has already raised more than $284,000 from agricultural interests, while his opponent, Roy Herron, has gotten just $24,000. Fincher is also the beneficiary of this breakfast on Thursday headlined by the GOP Tennessee delegation and lobbyist Tim Locke.
• Also tomorrow, Democratic powerhouse lobbyist Jack Quinn is leading several Quinn Gillespie lobbyists hosting  a lunch at the firm’s offices for Robin Carnahan, running for Missouri’s open Senate seat against Roy Blunt. Carnahan is also the beneficiary of this labor breakfast on Thursday. On Wednesday, Blunt is the beneficiary of this reception at the Hotel George hosted by lobbyists Rhod Shaw, Sam Geduldig, Doug Ritter, and Mildred Webber.
• On Thursday, Rep. Ron Klein, D-Fla., who is in a hotly contested race to defend his seat against Tea Party candidate Allen West, will be feted at this reception at the Williams & Jensen townhouse on Capitol Hill. The event is hosted by three of the firm’s lobbyists, David Franasiak, Bert Carp, and Melinda Maxfield.

Click here to download a spreadsheet of upcoming fundraisers for candidates in competitive races.

• The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) celebrates the new year with a “business council” kickoff breakfast featuring Rep. Steve Israel (D-N.Y.),  Rep. Joseph Crowley (D-N.Y.), Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.), Rep. Albio Sires (D-N.J.), Rep. Bruce Braley (D-Iowa), Rep. Ron Klein (D-Fla.), Rep. Dennis Cardoza (D-Calif.), and Rep. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.). Of these, The Cook Report rates Braley, Klein, Cardoza, and Murphy as being in races that could turn competitive.
• Sen. Saxby Chambliss (R-S.C.) will be hosting a fundraiser this weekend for his leadership PAC, the Republican Majority Fund, at The Breakers, a resort featuring golf, a spa, and of course, the beach, in Palm Beach, Florida. Chambliss was the focus earlier this year of an investigative report by Propublica, which showed how he has used the PAC to fund his golf habit. The PAC already spent $48,283 at The Breakers early last year on “golf/catering,” and “prizes,” according to expenditure reports filed with the U.S. Federal Election Commission (FEC). Click here to see a list of the parties we have on file benefitting Chambliss and Republican Majority Fund.