Republican Cash Picture Improves, But Democrats Still Lead

The Republican National Committee (RNC) was bested by the Democratic National Committee (DNC) in February fundraising, according to the committees’ Federal Election Commission filings.

On the evening of March 20, both the Democrat and Republican main fundraising committees for federal elections published their financial statements for February.

The DNC added another month to its streak of outperforming the RNC in both money raised and banked.

According to its monthly FEC filing, the RNC raised about $10.7 million in receipts in February while making about $8.1 million in disbursements.

It ended the month with $11.3 million in cash on hand.

Meanwhile, the DNC raised $16.6 million, spent $14.2 million, and entered March with about $26.5 million in cash on hand.

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DNC Chair Jaime Harrison posted a sarcastic remark on X poking fun at the state of the rival party’s finances.

In February, the RNC was under the leadership of Ronna McDaniel.

Ms. McDaniel stepped down in March, and the party committee picked two co-chairs: Michael Whatley and Lara Trump.

The new chairs have promised to fully support former President Donald Trump’s run for the White House.

The RNC and DNC are the primary committees of their respective parties.

The organizations are charged with developing and promoting the parties’ platforms and supporting candidates for local, state, and national offices.

In February, the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) and Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) outraised their Republican Party counterparts.

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

According to their FEC filings, the DSCC and DCCC raised about $24 million and spent about $11.8 million.

The pair told the FEC they have about $91 million in cash on hand.

In a release celebrating the fundraising haul, the DCCC said the Democratic Party’s “strong momentum” in Congress stands in “stark contrast to yet another month of chaos and dysfunction from House Republicans.”

“House Republicans are more focused on falling in line behind Donald Trump than they are on improving the lives of the American people,” DCCC Chair Suzan DelBene said in a release.

“The public has taken notice.”

The National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) and the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC), for their part, didn’t finish far behind in fundraising but trail the Democrat groups’ cash levels.

The NRSC and NRCC raised about $21.3 million and spent $12.4 million in February, according to the FEC. The groups reported having about $70 million in cash at the end of the month.

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

In the Senate, Republicans hold 49 of the 100 seats, and Democrats hold 48.

Nevertheless, Democrats are considered the majority party because the three independent lawmakers—Sens. Angus King (I-Maine), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), and Kyrsten Sinema (I-Ariz.)—caucus with the Democrats.

All 435 House seats will be up for election in November 2024. A third of the Senate seats will also be up for election.