The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee will start the 2016 cycle with $5 million more in debt than Republicans, according to recently released fundraising figures from both organizations.  

The National Republican Senatorial Committee starts the cycle $10 million in debt, the committee announced Saturday, while the DSCC starts the cycle $15 million in debt.  

Not included in the DSCC’s debt is a $5 million mortgage it took out last summer to purchase its longtime building, the Mott House. The mortgage does not comprise any part of the committee’s operational debt that it pays down during the cycle.  

The DSCC also paid off $1.3 million of debt in January, according to a DSCC aide.  

Both committees brought in small hauls from Nov. 25 through Dec. 31 — the final reporting period of the year. The DSCC raised $1.6 million in that time period, while the NRSC raised $1.5 million.  

The year-end reports including these figures are due to the Federal Election Commission by the end of Saturday.  

During the midterms, the DSCC raised $50 million more than NRSC’s total haul. The DSCC raised $168.3 million, while the NRSC brought in $118.3 million.  

In 2014, the GOP picked up nine Senate seats to win Senate control for the first time since 2006.  

In 2016, however, Republicans are defending 24 seats , while Democrats must protect 10. Many of the GOP-held seats are in states President Barack Obama carried twice, making them prime Democratic targets.  

Democrats must net five seats to ensure Senate control.  

Correction 5:12 p.m. An earlier version of this post misstated the amount the NRSC raised for the cycle  

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