DSCC Outraises NRSC in June, Retakes Cash Lead
The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee outraised its Republican counterpart by $3 million in June to regain a slight cash-on-hand advantage heading into July.
The DSCC raised more than $7.1 million in June and ended the month with more than $21 million in the bank for the November elections. The National Republican Senatorial Committee raised more than $4 million in June and closed out the month with $19.7 million in the bank, the committee announced Tuesday.
The DSCC spent $3.1 million last month compared to the NRSC’s $2.5 million. The DSCC had ended May with more than $17.5 million in cash on hand, just slightly less than the NRSC’s close to $18.2 million.
The June fundraising total brings the NRSC’s receipts for the cycle to $68.4 million. The DSCC had raised a total of more than $71.9 million through June.
“As November approaches, enthusiasm for Democrats is only growing, as evidenced by our strong fundraising numbers and the strong fundraising totals of Democratic candidates across the country,” DSCC Executive Director J.B. Poersch said in a statement.
The DSCC statement also noted that most of the vulnerable Democratic incumbents on the ballot this fall posted strong second quarter fundraising numbers and began the month with wide cash-on-hand advantages over their GOP opponents.
Among the top Senate fundraisers for the period that ended June 30 were: California’s Barbara Boxer ($4.6 million), Arkansas’ Blanche Lincoln ($2.6 million), Nevada’s Harry Reid ($2.4 million), Washington’s Patty Murray ($1.6 million), Wisconsin’s Russ Feingold ($1.4 million) and Colorado’s Michael Bennet ($1.2 million).
But Republicans argued that their candidates are also seeing a surge in financial support.
“The big story this month has been the tremendous fundraising success enjoyed by our Senate Republican candidates, particularly in our open seats where Republicans raised more money in virtually every race,” NRSC Executive Director Rob Jesmer said in a statement. “The voter enthusiasm we’re seeing in the polls for Republican candidates is translating into critical financial resources that will allow them to run competitive races and win in November.”