The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee ended the midterm election cycle $12 million in debt, $3.2 million more than its Republican counterpart.  

The committees released the figures ahead of filing their post-general election reports, which are due Thursday to the Federal Election Commission.  

The DCCC’s debt is $2.3 million less than it took out in the 2012 cycle, when it picked up more than a half-dozen seats. But it’s more than the $8.8 million debt the National Republican Congressional Committee announced earlier in the day.  

This cycle, House Democrats may lose as many as 13 seats, depending on the outcome of a recount in Arizona.  

The DCCC also reported raising $18.7 million from Oct. 16 through Nov. 24. It had $4.3 million in cash on hand as of Nov. 24. The NRCC had $3.1 million left in the bank.  

It’s common practice for the House and Senate committees on both sides of the aisle to take on debt in the final weeks of the cycle, needing the cash flow to place last-minute expenditures.  

The 114th: CQ Roll Call’s Guide to the New Congress


Get breaking news alerts and more from Roll Call in your inbox or on your iPhone.