When it comes to raising funds and stockpiling cash, the top-performing Republican House and Senate candidates generally trail their Democratic rivals. The super PACs that support Republicans, however, could have enough financial firepower to close that gap.
The two major outside groups working to help the GOP maintain control of Congress reported enormous war chests in quarterly fundraising reports filed this week with the Federal Election Commission.
The Republican-aligned Senate Leadership Fund disclosed more than $100 million more cash on hand than its Democratic counterpart. And in the House, the GOP’s Congressional Leadership Fund reported twice as much cash as the Democratic equivalent – though that comparison comes with an asterisk.
An OpenSecrets analysis of the individual candidates’ fundraising reports through June 30 found the five Senate candidates who have either raised the most money or amassed the largest cash reserves are all Democrats. A similar pattern appears in the House, where Democrats hold four of the top five spots on both lists.
But when it comes to outside groups, the filings show Republicans with the upper hand.
SLF reported $238.6 million in cash on hand – the largest war chest of any super PAC, according to FEC records. By comparison, the pro-Democrat Senate Majority PAC reported $126.5 million.
Those massive sums could help neutralize the fundraising advantages held by several individual candidates. Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.) leads all Senate hopefuls with $77.3 million raised this cycle and $42.6 million in cash on hand. He and other top fundraisers – including Texas state Rep. James Talarico and former North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper – are running in key battleground races that Democrats view as pivotal to regaining control of the chamber.
A similar financial dynamic is unfolding in the House – with a caveat.
The GOP-aligned Congressional Leadership Fund reported $141.8 million banked. But the comparison to Democrats’ House Majority PAC isn’t exactly apples to apples: HMP files monthly, not quarterly. Through May 31, that super PAC reported $66.7 million in cash, and its June report is not expected for another week.
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) leads all House candidates with $32.6 million raised through June 30, and her nearly $16 million war chest ranks second only to Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.), who has $16.9 million in cash and has raised nearly $13.8 million. The only Republicans in the top five are Speaker Mike Johnson (La.), whose $20.5 million raised ranks third, and Rep. Elise Stefanik (N.Y.), who is fifth with $10.8 million in cash.
Super PACs – formally, independent expenditure-only committees – may raise and spend unlimited sums but are not allowed to coordinate with the candidates they support. That often means paying higher rates for television ads. While candidate campaigns are legally entitled to the lowest unit rates, super PACs must buy air time at full market prices, making their advertising more expensive.
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