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WASHINGTON (May 17, 2019) – The National Association of Realtors® commemorated the 50th anniversary of the REALTORS® Political Action Committee during its annual legislative conference this week. Since 1969, RPAC has promoted the election of pro-Realtor® candidates across the United States. RPAC uses voluntary Realtor® contributions to help elect candidates who understand and support the interests of the real estate industry.
"Over the past 50 years, the REALTORS® Political Action Committee has grown into the number one trade association political action committee in the nation," said NAR President John Smaby, a second generation Realtor® and broker at Edina Realty in Edina, Minnesota. "We are tremendously proud that RPAC is also the most bi-partisan major PAC in the country, a fact which truly embodies the REALTOR® Party spirit. Realtors® are continuing to work closely with elected officials to strengthen Americans' ability to buy, invest, own and sell property, creating healthier and more diverse communities in every corner of this country."
On January 26, 1969, a President's Report to NAR's Executive Committee announced the creation of the Real Estate Political Education Committee. Later that year, REPEC had already attracted 300 investors with contributions totaling $28,000. Today, over 400,000 people have invested $9 million in RPAC at the federal level, and over $36 million at all three levels of the association. There are currently 1,061 Realtors® in the RPAC Hall of Fame from all 50 states, the Virgin Islands and the District of Columbia.
"RPAC's participation rate of 35% nearly triples national trade association PAC participation averages. RPAC has been tremendously successful in our efforts to protect private property rights and promote homeownership, and we are so grateful that our members have taken note of that success," Smaby concluded.
The National Association of Realtors® is America's largest trade association, representing more than 1.3 million members involved in all aspects of the residential and commercial real estate industries.
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