Democratic candidates outraised their Republican rivals in the third quarter, building a financial edge in the final stretch of the midterms as they hope to flip control of the Senate. Republicans trailed in third-quarter fundraising in all but one competitive race in the final reporting period before the November 3 elections, a warning sign as control of the Senate remains competitive. But outside money could relieve Republicans who are lagging in campaign funding.
Republicans outspent Democrats by $188 million in advertising in Senate battlegrounds, AdImpact wrote in an October 1 blog post. Funds from the GOP-aligned Senate Leadership PAC, the Trump-affiliated MAGA Inc. and Elon Musk, the world’s wealthiest man who has opened his wallet for Republicans, could help make up for that in key races. Newsweek reached out to the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee and National Republican Senatorial Committee for comment via email.
Democratic state Representative James Talarico of Texas brought in $64 million, the largest amount any U.S. Senate candidate has ever raised during the third quarter, as he hopes to become the first Democrat to win in the state since 1994, when Democrats won several statewide offices, even as Democratic Governor Ann Richards lost reelection. His Republican opponent, state Attorney General Ken Paxton, raised just over $10 million.
Democrats outraised their opponents in other competitive states like Alaska, Georgia, Iowa, Maine, Michigan, New Hampshire, North Carolina and Ohio. But they also pulled in impressive fundraising in three states that have been viewed as more favorable to Republicans. As Kansas’ Senate race shifted to toss-up territory, Democrat Adam Hamilton raised nearly $10 million, while Republican Senator Roger Marshall raised less than $1 million.
Democrat Annie Andrews outraised Republican Senator Darline Graham in South Carolina. In Nebraska, independent Dan Osborn outraised Republican Senator Pete Ricketts. Only in Minnesota did a Republican candidate outraise a Democrat.
GOP candidate Michele Tafoya raised $4.3 million to Democratic Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan’s $3.8 million in the race in which Flanagan is seen as having an advantage. Having more cash than your opponent is important, David Karol, a professor of political science at the University of Maryland, told Newsweek, noting that candidates can buy TV ads at a lower rate and have “total control” of the message of those ads because they cannot coordinate with super PACs. But having a fundraising advantage isn’t the only important factor for campaigns, he said.
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