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Pacific County residents have given hundreds of thousands of dollars to their chosen candidates and causes over the past two years, according to data compiled by the Federal Election Commission.

From the beginning of 2023 through the first six months of this year, about 885 county residents combined to donate nearly $400,000 to federal candidates and political committees, with an outsized share of those totals coming from people living on the Long Beach Peninsula.

Peninsulaites made about $285,000 in donations while those living elsewhere in the county combined to donate only $109,000. The biggest single source of contributions was from the Ocean Park area, where about 275 people donated just over $150,000.

The $394,000 that was doled out is nearly identical to the $391,000 that was donated in the same 18-month period during the last presidential election cycle, from the beginning of 2019 through the middle of 2020. Those living on the peninsula donated about $31,000 more than they did four years ago, while contributions elsewhere in Pacific County were down by about $28,000.

Only comparing the amounts raised from the two cycles does not include inflation as a factor, however. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, $391,000 in 2020 has the same buying power as $477,000 today — about $83,000 more than what was contributed locally as of June 30.

One possible reason for the drop-off in contributions from four years ago is the lack of a wide-open presidential primary among either of the two major parties. Nearly 30 major candidates declared their candidacy and combined to raise at least $800 million in individual contributions for the 2020 Democratic primary throughout 2019-20.

Breakdown by party

During this election cycle, 49.8% of all donated funds from locals — $196,000 — have gone toward Republican-aligned candidates or causes, while 45.1% — $178,000 — have gone toward candidates or causes affiliated with the Democratic Party. The remaining 5.1%, about $20,000, went toward third-party candidates or political committees that gave to candidates of both major parties.

The slight Republican edge came even as more Pacific County residents donated to Democratic-aligned candidates and committees. About 570 unique individuals made at least one donation to a Democratic candidate or cause in 2019 or the first six months of 2020, while some 300 people donated at least once in favor of a Republican candidate or cause.

Overall, the average Democratic supporter in Pacific County made 14 separate contributions and donated $22.81 per contribution — about $311 per individual. The average Republican booster made 28 unique contributions and donated $23.60 per contribution — about $656 per individual.