The most junior members of the new House Democratic majority spent the last three months building monster campaign accounts to protect their seats, while almost every senator up for reelection padded their early advantage over rivals from the other side.
Campaign fundraising reports filed Monday with the Federal Election Commission show the 44 Democrats who captured Republican-held seats in 2018 raised a collective $22.5 million, more than every Democratic presidential candidate except South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete ButtigiegPete ButtigiegScaled-back Pride Month poses challenges for fundraising, outreach Biden hopes to pick VP by Aug. 1 It’s as if a Trump operative infiltrated the Democratic primary process MORE.
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Thirteen of those freshmen ended the month of June with more than $1 million in the bank, a significant amount of money for such junior members.
Thirty-three of the 36 incumbent Democrats that the party’s campaign committee sees as potentially vulnerable next year raised more than the Republican incumbent who held that seat in the comparable quarter two years ago.
At the front of the pack are several members from California, where Democrats captured seven Republican-held seats last year. Rep. Katie Porter (D) raised more than $1 million in the last quarter, more than any other freshman, while Reps. Josh Harder (D), Harley RoudaHarley Edwin RoudaGloves come off as Democrats fight for House seat in California Gun control group rolls out House endorsements Human Rights Campaign rolls out congressional endorsements on Equality Act anniversary MORE (D) and Katie HillKatherine (Katie) Lauren HillThe Hill’s Morning Report – Presented by The American Investment Council – Trump takes his ‘ready to reopen’ mantra on the road The Hill’s Campaign Report: Democrat concedes in California House race Republican flips House seat in California special election MORE (D) all ended the quarter with seven-figure bank balances.
Other Democratic freshmen with more than a million in the bank include Rep. Xochitl Torres Small (N.M.), who won a Republican-held open seat by less than 2 percentage points; New Jersey Reps. Tom MalinowskiThomas (Tom) MalinowskiNRCC turns up heat on vulnerable Democrats over Omar’s call to abolish police Gun control group rolls out House endorsements Human Rights Campaign rolls out congressional endorsements on Equality Act anniversary MORE and Mikie SherrillRebecca (Mikie) Michelle SherrillGun control group rolls out House endorsements Bipartisan Senate group offers new help to state, local governments Human Rights Campaign rolls out congressional endorsements on Equality Act anniversary MORE; Michigan Reps. Haley StevensHaley Maria StevensThe Hill’s Campaign Report: Buzz builds around Warren for VP Gun control group rolls out House endorsements Human Rights Campaign rolls out congressional endorsements on Equality Act anniversary MORE and Elissa SlotkinElissa SlotkinOvernight Defense: Trump’s move to use military in US sparks backlash | Defense officials take heat | Air Force head calls Floyd’s death ‘a national tragedy’ Democrats blast Trump’s use of military against protests Gun control group rolls out House endorsements MORE and New York Reps. Max RoseMax RoseDe Blasio: Robert E Lee’s ‘name should be taken off everything in America, period’ The Hill’s Coronavirus Report: New America’s Anne-Marie Slaughter says countries around world are deciding not to trust US; All eyes on New York as city begins phased reopening Max Rose calls for National Guard to be deployed to NYC to enforce curfew MORE and Antonio DelgadoAntonio Ramon DelgadoThe Hill’s Campaign Report: Buzz builds around Warren for VP Gun control group rolls out House endorsements Human Rights Campaign rolls out congressional endorsements on Equality Act anniversary MORE.
All told, the 44 Democratic freshmen are sitting on stockpiles that total $36 million.
In the Senate, only one incumbent — Sen. Martha McSallyMartha Elizabeth McSallyGOP senators introduce resolution opposing calls to defund the police No evidence of unauthorized data transfers by top Chinese drone manufacturer: study Senate Democratic campaign arm launches online hub ahead of November MORE (R-Ariz.) — raised less money than her likely general election opponent, retired astronaut Mark Kelly (D), who pulled in $4.2 million.
But, in a testament to Kelly’s fundraising prowess and to McSally’s own skills, the freshman Republican raised more money in the last quarter, $3 million, than any other incumbent senator, including both Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnellAddison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellSenate advances public lands bill in late-night vote GOP senator to try to reverse requirement that Pentagon remove Confederate names from bases No, ‘blue states’ do not bail out ‘red states’ MORE (R-Ky.) and Senate Majority Whip John CornynJohn CornynSenate headed for late night vote amid standoff over lands bill Koch-backed group launches ad campaign to support four vulnerable GOP senators Tim Scott to introduce GOP police reform bill next week MORE (R-Texas).
Cornyn has more money in the bank, $9 million, than any other senator seeking reelection this year, trailed closely by McConnell, with just under $7.9 million on hand.
On the other side of the aisle, Sen. Doug Jones (D-Ala.) leads the way with $4.2 million on hand, after he pulled in $1.8 million in the last quarter. Jones, seeking reelection in a state President TrumpDonald John TrumpSenate advances public lands bill in late-night vote Warren, Democrats urge Trump to back down from veto threat over changing Confederate-named bases Esper orders ‘After Action Review’ of National Guard’s role in protests MORE won by 28 percentage points, is the most vulnerable member up for reelection next year.
Sen. Gary PetersGary Charles PetersWarren, Democrats urge Trump to back down from veto threat over changing Confederate-named bases Hillicon Valley: Biden calls on Facebook to change political speech rules | Dems demand hearings after Georgia election chaos | Microsoft stops selling facial recognition tech to police Democrats demand Republican leaders examine election challenges after Georgia voting chaos MORE (D-Mich.) raised $2.2 million in the last quarter and ended with $4.7 million in the bank. His likely rival, 2018 candidate John James (R), pulled in $1.5 million in his first quarter in the race.
Sen. Jeanne ShaheenCynthia (Jeanne) Jeanne ShaheenWarren, Democrats urge Trump to back down from veto threat over changing Confederate-named bases Mnuchin indicates openness to more PPP loans in next COVID-19 relief bill On The Money: GOP turning against new round of ,200 rebate checks | Millions of Americans frustrated by delayed unemployment checks | Senate votes to give coronavirus relief program more flexibility MORE (D-N.H.) ended the quarter with almost $2.9 million on hand. Retired Army Brig. Gen. Don Bolduc, the GOP’s preferred candidate, entered the race just days before the end of the quarter and has not reported his fundraising yet.
Republicans hold a 53-47 seat edge in the Senate, and the GOP is defending 22 of the 34 seats up for election this year. Many Democratic challengers have only just begun to campaign and raise money seriously, setting them well behind the incumbents they will challenge.
In Iowa, businesswoman Theresa Greenfield (D) pulled in $625,000 in the month between her formal decision to challenge Sen. Joni ErnstJoni Kay ErnstGeorge Conway group hits Ernst in new ad GOP senators introduce resolution opposing calls to defund the police The Hill’s Campaign Report: Republicans go on attack over calls to ‘defund the police’ MORE (R) and the end of the quarter. She ended with about $600,000 in the bank, less than a fifth of the $3.4 million Ernst has on hand.
In Maine, state House Speaker Sara Gideon (D) announced her campaign after the end of the quarter, though her campaign said it had pulled in $1 million in its first 10 days. She has work to do to catch up to Sen. Susan CollinsSusan Margaret CollinsRepublicans prepare to punt on next COVID-19 relief bill Trump tweets spark fresh headache for Republicans Trump’s tweet on protester sparks GOP backlash MORE (R), who is sitting on a $5.4 million campaign account.
And in Colorado, Sen. Cory GardnerCory Scott GardnerSenate advances public lands bill in late-night vote OVERNIGHT ENERGY: Interior faces legal scrutiny for keeping controversial acting leaders in office | White House faces suit on order lifting endangered species protections | Lawmakers seek investigation of Park Police after clearing of protesters The Hill’s Campaign Report: Republicans go on attack over calls to ‘defund the police’ MORE (R) raised $2 million and sits on $4.9 million. The Democrats running against him combined to raise more than the incumbent Republican, but they will spend much of that money on next year’s June 30 primary. A dozen candidates are already running for the right to face Gardner, and at least one other prominent candidate is considering entering the race.
Republican Party committees hold a financial advantage so far this year, entirely thanks to the Republican National Committee’s (RNC) strong fundraising performance ahead of Trump’s reelection bid. The RNC had $37 million in the bank at the end of May, the latest figures available. The Democratic National Committee has just $8.2 million on hand, and nearly $6 million in remaining debt.
The National Republican Congressional Committee held $20 million in reserves, slightly more than the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee’s $17 million. And the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) had $13 million on hand, more than the National Republican Senatorial Committee’s (NRSC) $11.2 million. The NRSC still owes vendors $6 million, while the DSCC owes debts of $16.9 million.
The party committees must report their fundraising results each month. The reports for June are due at the weekend.
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