WASHINGTON, D.C. — With just 18 days until Election Day, the battle for Congress is heating up — and so is campaign fundraising.
Republicans started with a major financial advantage, but now, Democratic candidates appear to be closing the gap, raising millions more in some of the nation’s most competitive Senate races.
Democrats have been favored to win control of the U.S. House, but new polling and a major fundraising boost are bringing major momentum for Democrats in key Senate races.
President Donald Trump and deep-pocketed GOP donors gave Republicans a major head start. But now, Democrats appear to be fighting back. New Q3 fundraising reports show Democratic candidates pulling in millions, narrowing the financial gap ahead of Election Day. The shift is especially clear in key Senate races.
In Michigan, Democrat Abdul El-Sayed raised nearly $33 million — more than three times Republican Mike Rogers. In Texas, Democrat James Talarico raised more than $60 million compared to Republican Ken Paxton’s $10.2 million. The trend continues in other key Senate races, including in Alaska, Ohio, Maine and even Kansas.
The fundraising momentum for Democrats comes as their candidates appear to be closing the polling gap in key races. Analysts attribute narrowing polls to the economy.
“This is all about the economy and affordability,” said Dr. Todd Belt, professor and director of the Political Management Master’s Program at George Washington University. “People like farmers and cattle ranchers and others who have been affected by the tariffs. And of course, we’re all affected by the price of gasoline because everything we buy has to go to the grocery stores and we have to get around,” Belt added.
It’s not all bad news for Republicans, however. On Wednesday, the Supreme Court sided with Republicans in a fight over discounted television ad rates for political parties. The ruling preserves lower advertising rates for party committees, helping them stretch their campaign dollars.
GOP-aligned PACs and contributions from megadonors, like Elon Musk, will provide a major boost to Republicans, especially in Texas. Musk donated over $150 million to a Texas GOP super PAC during the month of September, according to new campaign finance filings.
