Top Democrats are encouraging their members to give more money to the party’s official campaign arm in an effort to combat the substantial fundraising advantage enjoyed by GOP-aligned organizations ahead of Election Day.
The National Republican Congressional Committee was the main campaign arm of the House GOP and started October with $92.3million in hand, compared to $59.2 million for Democrats.
This, along with a Fox News poll that showed Republicans are leading Democrats in the generic congressional ballot among likely voters has Democrats scrambling for more money.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Majority Leader StenyHoyer, and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi urged members to make their contributions to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.
Hoyer, D.Md., wrote a Thursday letter to House Democrats urging members from safe Democratic districts to pay up or risk losing their House seats.
Hoyer wrote that he had traveled to 47 districts in 26 states this election cycle and witnessed firsthand the energy and determination of the incumbents and red-to blue candidates. Fox News Digital reviewed a copy. They can win but only if they have enough resources.
Pelosi (D-Calif.) is encouraging members to help by promising to match all dues paid to the DCCC during October. Through her campaign and leadership PAC, the speaker has raised almost $37.8million for Democrats this cycle. Pelosi and DCCC also received $22.2 million through a joint fundraising committee.
The Democrats’ money isn’t going far enough this cycle. In an environment of low approval ratings for President Biden and 40-years-high inflation, Democrats are having trouble preserving a five-seat majority.
“Even a slight Democratic advantage in the generic ballot will still likely yield modest Republican seat gains at the House,” Daron Shaw, a Republican pollster who conducted the Fox News poll together with Democrat Chris Anderson. These results show a tight race for control of lower chamber. However, it’s still more than a month away and a late break could make a big difference.
The DCCC has raised more funds than the NRCC in the last three months, but outside GOP groups are still ahead.
Between July and September, $73 million was raised by the Congressional Leadership Fund, the main super PAC that works to flip the House in favor of Republicans. CLF’s total raise this cycle, which brought the group’s total to $220million, was considerably higher than the $55 million it received from House Majority PAC.
CLF does not hold the money. The super PAC has spent $200 million on attacking Democrats and boosting Republican candidates. The super PAC’s latest ad campaign includes $4 million against Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney, DCCC chairman, in New York.
“The palpable energy that we’ve witnessed all cycle behind fight for a new majority is only intensifying in final stretch,” stated Dan Conston, president of super PAC.
Democrats believe they can fill the gap in fundraising and subvert a GOP wave by getting incumbents in safe House positions to raise money.
Hoyer wrote, “If all our non-frontline personnel contributed 10% of their cash on the hand, it would almost amount to $23 million more that we could use for protecting and expanding our majority,” as a gesture of support. He is transferring $100,000 to DCCC.
