House Minority Whip Steny H. Hoyer, D-Md., crossed the $1 million mark in dues to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee on Thursday, according to two Democratic leadership sources.  

Hoyer, the second-ranking House Democrat, has also raised an additional $2.5 million on behalf of House candidates and incumbents over the course of the cycle. The DCCC has enjoyed a financial advantage over its GOP rival, the National Republican Congressional Committee, for most of the cycle. Democrats traditionally push their members to ante up in dues to the committee earlier than Republicans.  

Democrats will need every dime they have to compete in the fall. With a 17-seat deficit, the party will undoubtedly face a GOP-aligned outside-group spending onslaught.