The first quarter of 2021 saw a surge in fundraising activities for both the Democratic and Republican parties, as the battle for Congress intensifies. The latest federal filings reveal that both parties are defending narrow margins in the Senate and House, with the control of Congress likely to be decided by a few seats this fall.
Senate Fundraising
Democratic incumbents and nonincumbents alike raised millions in the first quarter, building crucial cash reserves for what are expected to be costly general election contests. Several of these contests feature wealthy Republican opponents. On the House side, many vulnerable Republican incumbents are under pressure, with Democratic challengers from California to New York outpacing them in fundraising during the first quarter.
Trump’s Fundraising Boost
As former President Donald Trump’s hush money trial in New York began, his fundraising efforts have ramped up. Big donors have started writing six-figure checks to support a new fundraising arrangement he established with the Republican National Committee and state parties after he became his party’s presumptive nominee last month. The Trump 47 Committee, as the new joint operation is known, reported raising more than $23 million in the first quarter of the year.
Biden’s Financial Operation
Meanwhile, President Joe Biden and the Democratic Party reported bringing in $90 million in March, far surpassing the $65.6 million that Trump reported raising with the Republican Party in that month alone. Biden has used this financial advantage to start spending heavily, as he tries to combat persistently low approval ratings and gain a polling advantage over Trump.
Democrats’ Big Sums in Senate Battlegrounds
Democrats dominated CNN’s most recent list of the top 10 Senate seats most likely to flip. FEC records show the Democratic incumbents or front-runners in these battleground states well armed for the fall fight, several of whom are likely to face wealthy Republican challengers.
Self-funding Senate GOP Candidates
Several GOP challengers, hailing from a variety of business backgrounds and some with net worths in the hundreds of millions, are set to face these Democrats in the fall. Their self-funding could help ease pressure on national party finances and offset what has been a recurrent disadvantage for the GOP, which has struggled to match Senate Democrats’ powerful small-dollar fundraising machine.
Democrats’ Fundraising Edge in House Swing Seats
A competitive fight is also underway for control of the US House as Republicans look to hold on to their narrow majority. Across several battleground districts, the first-quarter reports show House Democratic candidates matching their Senate counterparts in the money race.
‘Squad’ Members Prepare for Primary Fights
Several members of the House ‘squad’ of progressive Democrats who face competitive primaries reported strong first-quarter hauls. This could serve as an early test of how the Israel-Hamas war affects congressional contests, with the Gaza conflict becoming a flashpoint in the primary.
Challenges for McCarthy Foes
Virginia Rep. Bob Good, one of eight Republicans who voted to oust Kevin McCarthy as House speaker last year, raised more than $307,000 during the first three months of the year. However, primary challenger John McGuire, a state senator, raised nearly as much over the same period.
Celebrity Sightings
Celebrity donors during the first quarter included actor Sean Penn and “Family Guy” creator Seth McFarlane. Several media personalities wrote checks to former CNN anchor John Avlon’s bid for New York’s 1st Congressional District on Long Island.