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 regarding 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.