Almost a year post-midterm elections, House Republicans are highlighting a significant fundraising advantage that might help them keep the House majority come 2026.
The National Republican Congressional Committee has outperformed its Democratic counterpart for the first time in several years—specifically, since 2015. Typically, midterms are challenging for the ruling party, but the Democrats’ underwhelming fundraising and their weaker performance in the popular vote indicate that they may not be as strong as in previous cycles.
The NRCC claims to have raised approximately $720,000 more than the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee since the start of the year.
For contrast, the DCCC had a nearly $9 million lead after the first three quarters of 2017, which enabled the Democrats to gain 41 seats in the 2018 midterms, leading to a majority in the House.
In the first three quarters of 2025, the NRCC reported a $20 million increase in fundraising compared to the same time frame in 2017. Additionally, their bank balance at the end of September 2025 was $7.5 million higher than it had been in September 2017.
“The numbers speak for themselves: Democrats are facing financial struggles, disunity, and dwindling momentum, while House Republicans are riding a wave of energy and resources,” stated NRCC spokesperson Mike Marinella.
While the DCCC reported slightly more in third-quarter revenue—about $24 million—it also indicated a drop in year-to-date fundraising when compared to the previous cycle in 2023. By the end of September that year, the DCCC had outpaced the NRCC by $23 million.
Moreover, Republicans are holding a financial edge among their most vulnerable incumbents. Those on the NRCC’s Patriot List raised an average of $763,000 in the third quarter. Some, like Rep. Young Kim from California, raised over $1 million.
In comparison, vulnerable Democratic incumbents reported average fundraising of $664,000 during the same period, as analyzed by the NRCC. Four of these Democrats, including Rep. Jared Golden from Maine, also surpassed the $1 million mark.
Furthermore, Democrats appear to be struggling to maintain their popular vote standing compared to 2017, gaining only 2.6 points, as suggested by RealClearPolitics polling averages. In October 2017, they held a much broader lead.
The Democratic Party’s disappointing performance can be linked to historic lows in public approval ratings. A recent Wall Street Journal poll showed the party’s net favorability rating at -30—a record low since tracking began in 1990.
Matt Bennett, co-founder of the liberal think tank Third Way, remarked that low approval ratings may put the Democratic Party in a tough spot leading up to the midterms. “We’re in a bad place. We need to confront reality. The Democratic Party is in a very challenging position,” he noted during a discussion.
He went on to say, “We haven’t begun tackling these issues fully. I believe it’ll take about three years to find a solid presidential candidate.”
On another front, the Republican National Committee is continuing to lead against its Democratic rivals in fundraising. By the end of September, the RNC boasted $86 million in reserves compared to the DNC’s $12 million—a difference of $74 million.
It’s interesting to point out that in September alone, the DNC expended $1.6 million, raising their total commitment to over $20 million to cover campaign debts from former Vice President Kamala Harris’ unsuccessful presidential run.
