Democrats Widen Cash Advantage Over Republicans in August
As the Democratic Party held its quadrennial summit in Chicago, its main fundraising bodies raked in the cash.
On Sept. 20, the committees associated with the United States' major political parties released their financial disclosures covering their August activities.
The Federal Election Commission (FEC) filings show the main Democrat bodies collectively brought in $110.1 million during the month. The main Republican committees raised about $69.3 million.
At the Chicago convention, the Democratic Party rolled out President Joe Biden, two former Democratic presidents, Bill Clinton and Barack Obama, as well as former First Lady Michelle Obama to pitch Vice President Kamala Harris as the new standard bearer of the party.
Less than a month before Harris received the party's nomination, Biden announced he was withdrawing from the presidential contest between himself and former President Donald Trump. Within hours, Harris went from running mate to candidate.
The switch at the top of the ticket significantly changed Democrats' outlook for November and since then, national polling has indicated a close race between the two major candidates.
Democrats seized the fundraising momentum, too, with both the national parties and the Harris presidential campaign wresting the cash advantage away from the Trump campaign and the GOP.
According to the FEC, the Democratic National Committee (DNC) took in about $68.7 million and expended about $84.5 million in August. It began September with about $50 million in cash on hand.
By comparison, the Republican National Committee raised $40.4 million and spent $60.2 million during the month. It started September with $79.3 million in cash on hand.
The RNC, on the other hand, raised about $30.9 million in July, used about $33.5 million, and started August with about $99.1 million in cash on hand.
In Congress, both the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) held more cash on hand at the end of August than their Republican Party rivals.
The congressional committees exist primarily to raise money and donate to the campaigns of candidates running for seats in the House or Senate.
At the end of August, the National Republican Senate Committee (NRSC) held about $43.6 million, and the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) held about $70.85 million. The NRSC collected about $19.1 million and disbursed about $26.5 million. The NRCC took in about $9.7 million and sent out about $12.3 million.
The DSCC closed August with about $47 million in cash on hand, while the DCCC ended the month with about $87.3 million.
The DSCC raised $19.2 million during the month and spent about $31.6 million. The DCCC earned about $22.3 million in contributions while using about $27 million.
In the 118th Congress, Republicans remain the majority party in the House despite some departures.
In the Senate, Republicans hold 49 of the 100 seats, and Democrats have 47, with four independents who caucus with the Democrats.
All 435 House seats and one-third of the Senate seats are up for election in November.
