Big donors are pouring money into the battle for control of the House, with Democrats outpacing Republicans in fundraising in the final stretch.
This marks a significant shift, as Republican super PACs have historically been dominant and crucial for candidates who struggle to match their Democratic opponents in fundraising. However, the advantage that Republicans once held in the House has now disappeared.
The Congressional Leadership Fund, the largest GOP group focused on winning the House, announced that it raised $81.4 million from July to September, its highest quarterly total. This achievement is notable considering that Republicans lost their top fundraiser when Kevin McCarthy was removed as speaker about a year ago.
Despite CLF’s impressive fundraising efforts, they still fell short of their Democratic counterpart. The House Majority PAC reported raising approximately $99 million in the third quarter, with $69 million raised in September alone.
Both super PACs have collectively raised around $210 million during this cycle, which serves as a concerning sign for Republicans who heavily rely on their major donors to remain competitive in key battlegrounds.
Mike Smith, the president of House Majority PAC, expressed pride in surpassing their Republican counterparts in fundraising, emphasizing the growing gap in candidate fundraising favoring Democrats. Smith believes that their strategic advantage in securing crucial television and digital advertising will help them win back the House in November.
While Republicans have traditionally believed they don’t need to match Democrats dollar-for-dollar on TV advertising, Speaker Mike Johnson has been working to cultivate relationships with donors since taking over from McCarthy. Dan Conston, the operative chosen by McCarthy to lead CLF, has also been retained under Johnson’s leadership.
However, outside groups have limitations in their impact. Candidates can purchase TV airtime at lower costs than super PACs, making it less efficient for outside groups to buy ads compared to campaigns. Republicans often rely more on outside groups due to their candidates’ limited funds for self-funded advertising.
Democratic candidates have consistently outpaced their Republican opponents in fundraising since 2018. Several Democratic challengers have already announced raising over $2 million in the last quarter, demonstrating strong financial support for their campaigns.
For instance, Janelle Bynum, Laura Gillen, and Derek Tran, Democratic challengers for Republican representatives, have reported significant fundraising totals, further highlighting the financial advantage Democrats currently hold in the House race.
With Republican House candidates trailing behind Democrats in fundraising, the CLF has played a crucial role in bridging the financial gap between the two parties.
In the previous election cycles, CLF and HMP were relatively close in fundraising. However, in 2022, Republicans surged ahead, with CLF maintaining a substantial cash advantage over HMP throughout the cycle.
This financial advantage has significant implications for campaign strategies leading up to Election Day. While CLF outspent HMP in the 2022 cycle, the tables may turn this year as HMP has reserved more future TV and radio ad bookings than CLF. Both sides have the opportunity to adjust their ad spending before November to influence the final outcome.
