As Rowan’s incumbent representatives in the U.S. House inch closer to 2016 election challenges, they’ll oversee political purses that contain significant amounts of money from political groups based outside of North Carolina.

In two of three cases, political action committees, not individual voters, represent the largest, single source of money flowing into the campaigns of U.S. House members representing Rowan, according to the latest campaign finance reports. PACs are organizations that raise money to elect or defeat candidates. PACs also spend money to lobby for specific pieces of legislation.

In all cases, incumbents possess more money than primary or potential general election opponents.

The latest reports — for a period starting in October and ending Dec. 31 — show Reps. Richard Hudson, R-8, and Alma Adams, D-12, receiving the largest, single portion of campaign contributions from political action committees, many of which are based in the Washington, D.C., area. That trend is present in all 2015 finance reports for Hudson and Adams. Finance reports for prior years show an identical trend.

Rep. Virginia Foxx, R-5, has received large sums of money from D.C.-based PACs. However, the total from PACs in Foxx’s reports is less than a majority or plurality. The most significant source of campaign cash for Foxx comes from individuals giving more than $200.

Like other challengers, Foxx’s competition in the March Republican primary — Kernersville resident Pattie Curran — remains sharply behind in fundraising. Curran has raised about $47,500, spent about $45,700 and had $1,802 in cash on hand at the end of 2015. Meanwhile, Foxx in 2015 raised $601,690 and spent $226,857 of her campaign funds. Combined with unused money from prior years, Foxx’s campaign contains more than $2.4 million.

Even with the notable disadvantage in campaign funding, Curran has raised and spent the most of anyone challenging Foxx, Hudson, or Adams, according to finance reports.

The 2015 year-end campaign finance reports for U.S. Congressional candidates were due on Jan 31. The Salisbury Post analyzed reports to find out where Rowan County’s incumbent members get campaign cash. Congressional elections are split into two-year fundraising periods. Therefore, 2015 is the first year of the 2016 election cycle.

Hudson

Since his first bid for Congress, Hudson’s official campaign committee has received the largest, single portion of its money from political action committees, or PACS.

In his first bid for Congress, Hudson received less than 50 percent, but still a plurality, of his fundraising total from PACs. In 2015, he received 60 percent of his fundraising total from PACs.

When asked about fundraising numbers, campaign spokesperson Ashley Monroe Beaver said Hudson received a large majority of his contributions from individuals.

“I think voters are more concerned about candidates who live hours away from their district than where donors live,” Beaver said. “Richard Hudson lives here and more than 70 percent of his contributions from 2015 came from individuals. Ninety-one percent of those contributions came from North Carolina.”

She also mentioned similar statistics about past campaigns. She said the vast majority of contributions are from North Carolinians donating less than $500.

The exact frequency at which individuals contribute to Hudson’s campaign is unclear on finance reports. Federal elections rules don’t require campaigns to individually list contributions under $200. As a percent of the total dollar amount raised, however, Hudson did receive a majority of his money from PACs in 2015, according to campaign finance reports.

Year-end reports for 2015 show Hudson received a total of $267,552 from individuals — itemized and unitemized — and $453,475 from PACs.

His largest PAC contributors in 2015 included $5,000 each from the National Agricultural Aviation Association in Washington, D.C.; the Automotive Free International Trade PAC in Alexandria, Virginia.; the CSX Corporation Good Government Fund in Washington, D.C.; the Publix Super Markets Inc Associates PAC, in Lakeland, Florida; Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company in Springfield, Massachusetts; John Deere PAC in Moline, Illinois; Piedmont Natural Gas in Charlotte; Prosperity PAC in Alexandria, Virginia and the National Cable and Telecommunications Association in Washington, D.C.

When asked about contributions from PACs, Beaver said Hudson bases every single vote on principle and what’s best for people of the 8th District. She said Hudson appreciates conservative and pro-business groups who choose to support him. She said Hudson works for people of the 8th District, not PACs.

The largest total amount contributed to Hudson’s campaign by an individuals was $2,700, which he received from 24 individuals.

Adams

In her 2014 run for Congress, Adams raised a plurality of her money from PACs. In 2015, Adams has received 70 percent of campaign cash from PACs rather than individuals, according to campaign finance reports.

When asked about Adams’ finance reports, campaign manager Sam Spencer said Adams’ job is one that affects the entire nation.

“So naturally, there are people all across the nation who stand by her and want to ensure that she has the resources needed to stay in Congress and continue her advocacy for the issues that matter most to the 12th District and our entire nation,” Spencer said.

He said some PACs in the Washington, D.C. area follow instructions from local affiliates when making donations to political candidates.

During 2015, Adams raised $87,653 from individuals — itemized and unitemized —and $213,029 from PACs, according to campaign finance reports.

Despite the campaign’s large revenue total from PACs, Spencer said Adams believes the nation needs campaign finance reform. Adams’ campaign was the only one who mentioned campaign finance reform as part of responses to inquiries by the Salisbury Post.

“The congresswoman stands by the belief that our democracy demands a political process that is fair, accessible and equitable for all seeking public office — and right now it isn’t,” Spencer said.

Spencer specifically referenced a U.S. Supreme Court decision frequently referenced by campaign finance reform supporters — Citizens United vs. FEC. In the case, Supreme Court Justices held that the First Ammendment prohibits government from restricting independent political expenditures by a nonprofit entity.

“She firmly believes that the Supreme Court’s ruling in Citizens United has done great harm to our political system,” Spencer said about Adams.

Adams’ largest contributions from PACs were $5,000. A total of 13 PACs contributed a $5,000 to Adams campaign in 2015. Only two of the 13 weren’t from Washington, D.C. Most of the groups represent specific trades. Examples include the United Auto Workers; the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers PAC; and International Association of Bridge, Structural Ornamental and Reinforcing Iron Workers.

Adams’ three largest individual contributions in 2015 included $2,700 from Charlotte physician Stuart Schnider, $2,600 from Greensboro physician Charlene Green and $2,500 from Winston-Salem physician Anthony Atala.

Foxx

Compared to North Carolina’s other members of the U.S. House, Foxx routinely maintains the most campaign cash on hand. She’s got slightly less than twice as much as any other member of the U.S. House from North Carolina. The reason: if Foxx raises more money in one campaign year than she spends, the money carries over to a subsequent election year.

Dating back to the 2007-2008 campaign finance period — the latest finance records available online — Foxx has raised the largest, single portion of her money from individuals. A majority of Foxx’s individual contributions come from within the 5th District or nearby. A number of Foxx’s individual contributions also come from out of state.

Foxx’s largest total contribution from anyone in 2015 was $2,700. Among her $2,700 contributions were donations from New York City; Atlanta; Stuart, Florida; and Bowling Green, Kentucky. In December 2015, Foxx received a contribution from a jewelry store owner in Juneau, Alaska.

When asked about the out-of-state contributions, Foxx said she’s made a number of friends across the nation. She said many now live in other places “and are still excited about supporting my conservative vision of limited government.”

“There are voters and organizations that have noticed my principled and strong track record of standing up for our cherished freedoms and working to reduce the size and scope of government,” Foxx said.

Even with the majority of Foxx’s contributions coming from individuals, she still receives notable sums from PACs. Foxx’s largest contribution from a PAC in 2015 was $5,000, which her campaign received from seven groups.

The PACs included: Maryland Association for Concerned Citizens in Baltimore; the Freedom Project in Washington, D.C.; Alex Lee Inc PAC in Hickory; Bridgepoint Education INC in San Diego, California; American Speech Language Hearing PAC in Rockville, Maryland; First Energy Corp. PAC in Washington D.C.; and John Deere PAC in Moline, Illinois.

Foxx’s 2015 campaign finance reports show she raised $372,444 from individuals — itemized and unitemized — in 2015, according to campaign finance reports. Her campaign received $229,246 from PACs in 2015.

When asked about money raised by her campaign, Foxx said it requires substantial resources to spread her message to voters, including: Internet communications, mail and advertisements.

“Frankly, these things take considerable campaign resources to get in front of (hundreds) of thousands of voters,” Foxx said.

Contact reporter Josh Bergeron at 704-797-4246.