Democratic Senate candidates outraise Republicans as GOP outside groups spend heavily
Democratic candidates in competitive Senate races raised far more than their Republican rivals from July through September, NBC News and Roll Call reported. In Texas, James Talarico raised $60.2 million to Ken Paxton's $10.2 million. Republican outside groups are spending big to close the gap, NBC News, Roll Call and Fox News reported.
Democratic candidates in competitive Senate races raised far more money than their Republican opponents from July through September, according to new reports filed with the Federal Election Commission, NBC News and Roll Call reported.
Democrats in these races raised a combined $253 million, more than four times the $56 million raised by Republicans, NBC News reported. Republicans were outraised in all but one of the 15 races NBC News rates as competitive, with Minnesota the only exception, NBC News reported. Roll Call also reported that Minnesota's Democratic nominee was the only one in a competitive race to be outraised.
In Texas, Democrat James Talarico raised $60.2 million to Republican Ken Paxton's $10.2 million, NBC News and Roll Call reported. In Georgia, Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff raised $33.1 million, compared with $2.8 million for Republican Mike Collins, NBC News reported. In Kansas, Democrat Adam Hamilton raised $9.9 million, while Republican Senator Roger Marshall raised $866,000, Roll Call reported.
Several Republicans ended September with more cash than their Democratic opponents, Roll Call reported. In Maine, Republican Senator Susan Collins raised $5.2 million to Democrat Troy Jackson's $20.4 million but had more cash on hand, Roll Call reported.
Republican outside groups have poured money into the races to make up the difference, NBC News and Roll Call reported. Elon Musk gave another quarter-billion dollars to Republican groups in recent months, including $158 million to the Senate Leadership Fund, NBC News reported. Republican campaigns and allied groups had outspent Democrats by $400 million this cycle, according to the ad tracking firm AdImpact, Fox News reported on October 12.
"We are being outspent by the Republicans. That's just a fact," said Lauren French, communications director at the Democratic Senate Majority PAC, according to Fox News. The Senate Leadership Fund "will continue to invest unprecedented resources across the map," said Chris Gustafson, its communications director, according to Fox News.
Candidates get better rates for TV ads than outside groups, NBC News and Roll Call reported.
What we know: Democratic candidates outraised Republicans in nearly every competitive Senate race last quarter.
What we don't: Whether Republican outside spending will outweigh the Democrats' fundraising edge.
Where outlets agree NBC News and Roll Call report that Democratic Senate candidates outraised Republicans last quarter, and NBC News, Roll Call and Fox News report heavy Republican outside spending.
Where they differ The outlets cited here report the same key facts so far.