WASHINGTON – Republican congressional leaders including Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and House Speaker Paul Ryan may be urging their party to support Donald Trump.

But in what observers see as a sign of mixed-feelings about the party’s presidential nominee, they and nearly all other Republicans on Capitol Hill aren’t putting their money where their mouths are.

Only one member of Congress, Rep. Lamar Smith, R-Texas, has given to Trump’s campaign – via his political action committee, Longhorn PAC – according to a study by the Center for Responsive Politics.

Compare that to 2012, when 68 Republican members of Congress chipped into Republican nominee Mitt Romney’s campaign, according to a separate tally by the campaign finance watchdog group at the request of CNHI newspapers.

McConnell, Ryan and Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn all gave Romney the legal limit of $10,000. This time around, none have opened their wallets for Trump.

Republicans in tough re-election races – including Pennsylvania Sen. Pat Toomey and New Hampshire Sen. Kelly Ayotte – have tried to keep their distance from Trump.

They, as well as Missouri Sen. Roy Blunt, who is also in the midst of a tough campaign, gave to Romney four years ago but have not donated to Trump.

Tyler Daniel, political director for House Majority Whip Steve Scalise, saw no sign of a lack of support for Trump. He attributed the lack of contributions to Trump’s having only recently set up a fundraising apparatus, after vowing to self-finance his campaign during the Republican primaries.

Daniel said he expects Scalise’s Eye of the Tiger PAC to give to Trump around the time he campaigns in Louisiana this fall. He expects more Republican members of Congress to give, as well. 

Spokespeople for Ryan and the others either did not return inquiries or declined comment about why they are not supporting Trump financially, even as they have spent hundreds of thousands of dollars to help other Republican candidates this year.

Trump’s campaign also did not comment.

McConnell spokesman Robert Steurer said the Kentucky Republican “has consistently said that he supports our nominee and is committed to preventing what would be a third term of Barack Obama and restoring economic and national security after eight years of a Democrat in the White House.” 

The $3,000 contribution by Smith’s PAC on May 27 accounts for nearly all of the money Trump has raised from congressional Republicans and candidates. A spokeswoman for Smith did not return a request for comment.

Paul Mitchell, a Michigan Republican running for Congress, gave another $292.

Trump’s $3,292 total pales compared to the $560,942 that Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton has received from 138 members of Congress or candidates, according to the Center for Responsive Politics.

Sen. Al Franken, D-Minn., tops Clinton’s Capitol Hill contributors with $14,000 from his campaign fund and his Midwest Values PAC.

The Capitol Hill donations are a small portion of $264 million raised by Clinton and the $89 million raised by Trump. But Trump’s paltry take from his own party is an indication of other issues, observers say.

Members of Congress and congressional candidates give money through PACs – like McConnell’s Bluegrass Committee or Ryan’s Prosperity Action PAC – to win favor with others in Congress, said Stephen Voss, an associate political science professor at the University of Kentucky.

Voss said Republicans may not want to be associated too closely with Trump and his controversies, such as a feud with the Muslim parents of a slain U.S. soldier killed in Iraq, or his declining poll numbers.

“They may not see Trump as doing anyone’s career much good,” he said.

Members of Congress may be willing to support Trump as an alternative to Clinton but aren’t willing to throw money at him, said Brendan Fischer, associate counsel for the Campaign Legal Center.

Trump’s slim totals might also reflect pessimism about his chances of winning.

“It might be being seen as wasted money,” Fischer said.

McConnell and Ryan have endorsed Trump but at times have distanced themselves from his comments. McConnell, for instance, said he disagreed with Trump’s statements about not automatically coming to the aid of NATO allies.

Cornyn, the senior senator from Texas, has said Trump was not his first choice. But he and Scalise, a Louisiana Republican, have urged their party to unite behind him.

According to the Center for Responsive Politics, McConnell’s Bluegrass Committee and Cornyn’s Alamo PAC each gave Romney the $10,000 maximum in contributions in 2012.

Their PACs have remained active during this election. The Bluegrass Committee, whose donors are lead by the Washington, D.C. lobbying firm BGR Group, has given $313,500 to three-dozen Republican congressional candidates. The Alamo PAC has given $120,000 to two-dozen candidates.

Ryan’s Prosperity Action PAC gave Romney the $10,000 limit four years ago, and this year it has given $921,000 to dozens of candidates.

Scalise’s Eye of the Tiger PAC gave Romney $2,000 in 2012 but has sat out this year’s presidential race so far, giving all of its $693,000 in contributions to congressional candidates.

Ayotte’s Kelly PAC gave $5,000 to Romney. This time, she has given $10,000 to her own campaign and another $210,000 to 23 other candidates.

Toomey’s Citizens for Prosperity in America Today gave $10,000 to Romney. It has given $193,000 this year, all to congressional candidates.

Ayotte has said she would vote for Trump but would challenge policies that she disagrees with.

Toomey has refused to endorse Trump.

Blunt also gave Romney $10,000 through his Rely on Your Beliefs PAC. This year his committee has given $132,000 to other congressional candidates.

Trump’s fundraising among his own party’s members of Congress and candidates is the least of any presidential nominee since 1992 – with one exception, according to the Center for Responsive Politics.

In 2012, President Barack Obama raised negative $2,300, when he did not take any PAC donations and gave back some contributions.

Romney raised $276,614 that year.

In 2008, nominee John McCain raised $355,835, and George W. Bush raised $362,579 from Congressional Republicans in 2004.

Kery Murakami is the Washington, D.C. reporter for CNHI’s newspapers and websites. Reach him at kmurakami@cnhi.com