Candidates also spend a lot of time dialing for dollars. A survey of House candidates shows that those with prior office experience spend more time on fundraising than on other campaign activities.

And top fundraisers raise a lot more early money today, especially in favorable environments like open seat races.

Candidates raise money earlier and earlier in the cycle (in both earlier and later primaries).

New paper with Ryan Mundy on the advantage of *candidate* wealth in US elections. Our rich Congress comes from rich candidates: they raise far more early money and especially more large-dollar donations, scare off competitors, and are more likely to be elected. Link below. @ryanmundy.bsky.social