This week, a new campaign declaration emerged, shedding light on some closely watched Senate races while also raising doubts about potential resignations among certain members of Congress.
Candidates were due to submit their federal campaign reports for the second quarter, which spans from April to June, by Tuesday. Political entities that report every six months must finalize their totals by the end of the month.
Here are five notable points from the recent fundraising overview:
Cornyn and Cassidy remain competitive despite significant challenges
Senators John Cornyn (R-Texas) and Bill Cassidy (R-La.) face formidable challengers from within their party, but they’ve managed to stay competitive in fundraising, even with hints of potential primary risks.
Ken Paxton, the Texas Attorney General, has drawn more financial backing for his campaign compared to Cornyn, raising around $2.9 million to Cornyn’s approximately $803,000. Still, Cornyn boasts a nearly $4 million total from his main campaign and joint fundraising efforts.
However, Cornyn can access only about $2.7 million of that, as some funds from his joint efforts aren’t allocated directly to his campaign.The Texas Tribune reports.
Supporters of Cornyn are increasing their fundraising activities too. Pro-Cornyn super PACs raised almost $11 million during the last quarter,according to Politico. In contrast, Lone Star Liberty PAC, which supports Paxton, collected $1.85 million.As noted by the Tribune.
In Louisiana, Cassidy secured $1.6 million through his major campaign channels, while treasurer John Fleming’s campaign reported $2.1 million—$2 million of which came from personal loans. State Senator Blake Miguez, who has also declared his candidacy, reported about $1.8 million, including $1 million in personal loans.
In comparison, Cassidy reported a total of $2.1 million raised for the quarter when adding his campaign and related fundraising efforts, ending with around $9 million left in the bank.
Low fundraising numbers spark retirement speculation
Several lawmakers’ fundraising efforts have led to discussions about possible retirements from Congress.
For instance, 88-year-old D.C. Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton has expressed intentions to run again, yet her team noted she raised only $45,000 in the recent quarter.
Meanwhile, 83-year-old Rep. Danny Davis (D-Ill.) has not confirmed whether he will run again, and his fundraising of about $46,000 from April to June leaves him with around $115,000 in the bank.
Rep. Andy Ogles (R-Tenn.) is facing a federal inquiry related to his campaign finances; the state of Tennessee notes he raised about $53,000, with no charges against him at this time.
These figures may be lower than expected, but they don’t necessarily indicate a lack of intent to seek reelection.
Michigan’s McMorrow dominates fundraising
Senator Mallory McMorrow of Michigan is vying for an open Senate seat and has surpassed her two Democratic rivals as well as GOP candidate Mike Rogers in fundraising.
Rep. Haley Stevens (D-Mich.) reported raising $2.8 million, which includes a $1.5 million transfer from the House Campaign Committee for Senate candidates.
McMorrow brought in $2.1 million this past quarter, while Abdul El-Sayed, the former health director of Wayne County, raised close to $1.8 million.
As for Rogers, he collected $745,000 through his primary campaign but total financing from his campaign and community efforts reached about $1.5 million.
Rep. Bill Huizenga (R-Mich.) is also weighing a potential Senate bid and reported expenditures of about $746,000 during his last financial assessment.
Progressive candidates show strong fundraising potential for 2028
Progressive leaders may not have attracted quite the same funds as last quarter, yet their totals remain solid.
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) raised $4.5 million, while Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) brought in $5.8 million. Rising star Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas) reported $2.1 million, and Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) nearly $2.5 million.
Both Khanna and Ocasio-Cortez are viewed as potential contenders for 2028 within the Democratic landscape.
Other hopefuls like mainstream Democrat Cory Booker (D-N.J.) also reported impressive figures, with his campaign stating a total of $9.6 million, including $1.5 million in transfers.
House Republicans in vulnerable positions show strong fundraising
While Republicans brace for a challenging political climate during this midterm season, some incumbents in precarious districts are still posting solid fundraising numbers compared to vulnerable House Democrats.
Democratic “frontline” members from the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee surpassed $1 million in fundraising.According to National Journal’s fundraising data. Representative Eugene Widman (D-Va.) secured $1.6 million.
Conversely, eight crucial members from the National Republican Congressional Committee raised over $1 million, with Rep. Young Kim (R-Calif.) collecting $2 million from a “Lean Republican” district.
These funds are crucial for Republicans, who are facing a genuine risk of losing seats in the upcoming election.
