House Republican Campaign Chairman Richard Hudson (R-N.C.) urged lawmakers in a private conference call on Thursday to step up fundraising efforts and investments as Democratic enthusiasm grows following Vice President Harris’ announcement that she is running for president.
Hudson’s plea, the Republican National Congressional Committee’s (NRCC) chairman, comes after the House Democratic Campaign Committee outraised its Republican counterpart $44 million to $37 million in the second quarter of the year. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) recorded its highest online fundraising day of the term (nearly $1 million) within 24 hours of Harris catapulting to the top of President Biden’s shortlist.
Sources told The Hill that Hudson spoke on the call about Republican fundraising delays and asked lawmakers for more financial support because of Democrats’ financial advantage.
“I want you to want that,” Hudson said while discussing Republican fundraising lows and the party’s desire to expand its majority, according to a source on the call.
A second source said the tone of the call was not one of alarm, but rather one that laid out “a clear path to winning seats in this new reality” with control of the House still undetermined.
Hudson said: [the] Harris’ election as the Democratic nominee highlights “the current state of the majority race,” a source said.
“There is a strong chance of winning the seat but they are still charting the way to do it,” the source added.
Meanwhile, House Republican leaders have pledged more financial support to the NRCC. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) announced in a phone call from Colorado during a 20-state visit in August that he would send the group $4 million, bringing his total contributions since taking office to more than $20 million, a source familiar with the matter said.
House Republican Chairwoman Elise Stefanik of New York, RN.N, announced $2 million from her New York Battleground Fund, the NRCC and candidates, bringing the total to $11 million spent this cycle on expanding the Republican majority, a second source said.
The financial appeal comes as Republicans continue to grapple with sustained momentum within the Democratic Party that began when Biden dropped out of the race and endorsed Harris, gained momentum when Harris chose Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D) as her running mate, and is expected to continue through the party’s convention in Chicago next week.
