Democrats Lead Republicans in Fundraising for 2nd Month in a Row

The Democratic Party raised far more money than the Republican Party in September, according to new financial disclosures.

On Oct. 20, the committees backing the federal campaigns of the United States’ major political parties disclosed their September fundraising.

The Federal Election Commission (FEC) filings show that the main Democratic bodies collectively raised about $157.1 million during the month, while the main Republican committees raised about $87.4 million.

September was the penultimate month of campaigning for federal elections that would determine the balance of power on Capitol Hill and which party’s candidate would take the White House.

At the top of the ticket, former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris faced off in Philadelphia at their only debate of the cycle. The television event, broadcast by ABC News, quizzed both candidates on domestic and foreign policy.

Meanwhile, the GOP and the Democrats focused their efforts on a handful of Senate races that could flip control of the upper chamber.

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Voters will head to the polls on Nov. 5. The FEC requires all candidates and committees to issue a final pre-election report on Oct. 24.

According to the FEC, the Democratic National Committee (DNC) raised about $98.7 million in September and spent about $102.1 million. The DNC entered October with about $46.6 million in cash on hand.

In the same month, the Republican National Committee (RNC) brought in about $37.8 million and spent about $47.4 million. The committee closed September with about $69.7 million in cash on hand.

September marked the second straight month the DNC had outpaced the RNC in fundraising.

According to previous disclosures, the DNC brought in about $68.7 million in August while spending $84.5 million. The DNC began September with about $50 million in cash on hand.

The RNC, on the other hand, raised about $40.4 million in August, used about $60.2 million, and started September with about $79.3 million in cash on hand.

In Congress, both the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) held more cash on hand at the end of September than their Republican Party rivals.

The congressional committees exist primarily to raise money and donate to the campaigns of candidates running for seats in the House or Senate.

At the end of September, the National Republican Senate Committee (NRSC) held about $21.1 million, and the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) held about $48.9 million. The NRSC collected about $30.7 million and disbursed about $53.2 million. The NRCC took in about $18.8 million and sent out about $40.7 million.

The DSCC closed September with about $37.4 million in cash on hand, while the DCCC ended the month with about $49.9 million.

The DSCC raised $28.1 million during the month and spent about $37.6 million. The DCCC earned about $30.3 million in contributions while using about $67.7 million.

In the 118th Congress, Republicans remain the majority party in the House despite some departures.

In the Senate, Republicans hold 49 of the 100 seats, Democrats have 47, and four independents caucus with the Democrats.

All 435 House seats and one-third of the Senate seats are up for election in November.