Why It Matters
The National Association of Realtors’ political action committee is spending millions to influence congressional races across the country, backing Republicans and Democrats as the real estate industry seeks allies on housing, property rights and other economic policy. RPAC has spent more than $12.5 million during the election cycle, distributing contributions and independent expenditures across both parties as it seeks to elect candidates aligned with the real estate industry’s policy priorities.
Federal Election Commission data covering Jan. 1, 2025, through May 31 shows RPAC reported approximately $9.28 million in contributions to other political committees, $1.07 million in independent expenditures and $1.65 million in operating expenses. The committee had approximately $20.54 million in cash on hand. Those figures supersede the draft’s April 30 totals and should not be combined with independent expenditures reported after that date.
Direct contributions
RPAC’s direct contribution strategy has supported Democratic and Republican campaign committees, including those associated with lawmakers involved in housing, taxation, appropriations, transportation and financial policy.
Diana DeGette for Congress and Jeffries for Congress received $28,000 each. DeGette (D-CO) represents Colorado’s 1st Congressional District, while House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) represents New York’s 8th District.
Blake Moore for Congress, Citizens for Boyle, Citizens for Eleanor Holmes Norton, David Rouzer for Congress, Friends for Gregory Meeks, McCollum for Congress and Mike Rogers for Congress received $27,000 each. Those committees support Rep. Blake Moore (R-UT) in Utah’s 1st District; Rep. Brendan Boyle (D-PA) in Pennsylvania’s 2nd District; Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC); Rep. David Rouzer (R-NC) in North Carolina’s 7th District; Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-NY) in New York’s 5th District; Rep. Betty McCollum (D-MN) in Minnesota’s 4th District; and Rep. Mike Rogers (R-AL) in Alabama’s 3rd District.
Bilirakis for Congress and Debbie Wasserman Schultz for Congress received $26,000 each. Rep. Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) represents Florida’s 12th District, while Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL) represents Florida’s 25th District.
Angie Craig for Congress and Cole for Congress received $25,000 each. Craig’s committee supported her federal campaign activity after she represented Minnesota’s 2nd District, while Rep. Tom Cole (R-OK) represents Oklahoma’s 4th District. Kaptur for Congress, supporting Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D-OH) in Ohio’s 9th District, received $24,000.
Chuck Fleischmann for Congress Committee Inc. and Steil for Wisconsin Inc. received $23,000 each. Rep. Chuck Fleischmann (R-TN) represents Tennessee’s 3rd District, and Rep. Bryan Steil (R-WI) represents Wisconsin’s 1st District.
Susie Lee for Congress, supporting Rep. Susie Lee (D-NV) in Nevada’s 3rd District, received $22,500.
Beatty for Congress, Courtney for Congress, Friends of Jim Clyburn and Pingree for Congress received $22,000 each. Those committees support Rep. Joyce Beatty (D-OH) in Ohio’s 3rd District; Rep. Joe Courtney (D-CN) in Connecticut’s 2nd District; Rep. Jim Clyburn (D-SC) in South Carolina’s 6th District; and Rep. Chellie Pingree (D-ME) in Maine’s 1st District.
John Rose for Tennessee, Mario Diaz-Balart for Congress and Mast for Congress received $21,000 each. Rep. John Rose (R-TN) represents Tennessee’s 6th District; Rep. Mario Díaz-Balart (R-FL) represents Florida’s 26th District; and Rep. Brian Mast (R-FL) represents Florida’s 21st District.
Adrian Smith for Congress, Bonamici for Congress, Dr. Raul Ruiz for Congress, Garbarino for Congress, Jimmy Gomez for Congress and Pete Aguilar for Congress received $20,000 each. Those committees support Rep. Adrian Smith (R-NE) in Nebraska’s 3rd District; Rep. Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR.) in Oregon’s 1st District; Rep. Raul Ruiz (D-CA) in California’s 25th District; Rep. Andrew Garbarino (R-NY) in New York’s 2nd District; Rep. Jimmy Gomez (D-CA) in California’s 34th District; and Rep. Pete Aguilar (D-CA) in California’s 33rd District.
Independent Expenditures — Support
Independent expenditures pay for communications supporting or opposing a candidate without coordinating with that candidate or campaign. Unlike direct contributions, they are not subject to contribution limits. RPAC’s independent-expenditure activity has supported candidates from both parties, but the spending did not always benefit candidates who ultimately became their party’s nominees.
RPAC spent approximately $1.01 million supporting Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) in the Republican primary for U.S. Senate. Cornyn later lost the May 26 Republican runoff, meaning the spending supported a primary candidate who did not advance to the general election.
RPAC spent $131,006 supporting Rep. Julie Johnson (D-TX) in the Democratic contest for Texas’s redrawn 33rd Congressional District. Johnson lost the May 26 runoff to former Rep. Colin Allred, who became the Democratic nominee.
RPAC spent $113,986 supporting Rep. Young Kim (R-CA) in California’s 40th District. Kim advanced from the June 2 top-two primary alongside fellow Republican Rep. Ken Calvert, setting up an all-Republican general election.
RPAC spent $76,264 supporting Republican John Lujan in Texas’s 35th District. Lujan lost the Republican runoff to Carlos De La Cruz, who advanced to face Democratic nominee Johnny Garcia.
RPAC spent $21,000 supporting Rep. Diana DeGette (D-CO) in Colorado’s 1st District. DeGette, who was a 30-year incumbent, lost the Democratic primary to progressive challenger and Democratic Socialist Melat Kiros.
RPAC spent $14,000 supporting Rep. Dan Crenshaw (R-TX) in Texas’s 2nd District. Crenshaw lost the Republican primary to Steve Toth.
RPAC spent $11,000 supporting Rep. Shri Thanedar (D-MI) in Michigan’s 13th District. Thanedar lost the Aug. 4 Democratic primary to state Rep. Donavan McKinney.
About the organization
According to the NAR RPAC Research Guide, RPAC’s stated mission is to identify candidates at the local, state and national levels who will work with Realtors to promote and protect property ownership. The PAC says voluntary contributions from Realtors are used to elect candidates who understand and support the industry’s interests.
Supporters of the PAC’s approach, including the Northeast Association of REALTORS®, argue that pooling member contributions gives the real estate profession a political voice regardless of party. The Michigan Association of REALTORS® says RPAC backs candidates who protect private-property rights and recognize real estate’s importance to the broader economy.
Criticism has also emerged from within the profession. In June and July, Tennessee real estate agents objected to state PAC contributions benefiting politicians involved in redistricting decisions they viewed as damaging to their communities. Tennessee Lookout reported that some agents argued the contributions undermined fair representation, community trust and professional ethics. Inman News reported that agents sought explanations for contributions to politicians they said violated the association’s ethical standards.
Housing-policy critics have separately argued that the National Association of Realtors and its affiliates have opposed renter protections. NOTUS reported that the association pushed to end pandemic-era eviction protections and opposed rent-control proposals, including an Orange County, Florida, initiative. More Perfect Union characterized the activity as political spending aimed at keeping rents higher, a characterization disputed by industry supporters and appropriately presented as the outlet’s framing.
The Bottom Line
RPAC remains one of the country’s largest membership-organization PACs, reporting more than $12.5 million in disbursements and $20.54 million in cash through May 31. Its direct contributions and independent expenditures benefit Republicans and Democrats, consistent with its stated nonpartisan strategy.
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