On Offense: House Democrats Dominate First Quarter 2016 Fundraising, Outraise Republican Opponents

As yet another proofpoint that the DCCC is ready to take advantage of the national environment caused by Donald Trump and Ted Cruz, the Committee today highlighted dozens of Democratic incumbents and candidates whose impressive first quarter fundraising numbers are notably higher than those of their Republican opponents.

These dominant figures stand on their own, while also shining a clear spotlight on numerous NRCC recruitment failures. These weak Republican candidates pose little challenge to Democratic incumbents, will be unable to compete in key districts and open seats, and their efforts will be further complicated by numerous ugly, large, Republican primaries.

Since day one, the DCCC’s strategy has been to go on offense, recruit aggressively, and establish high-functioning campaigns with great candidates that are ready to seize upon the national environment, however it might shape up. The first quarter fundraising success of so many House Democrats demonstrates yet another example of that successful offensive strategy.

Major Trends:

• Frontline Program Strength: Frontline Members are taking races off the table with outstanding fundraising that far exceeds their challengers.
• Republican Incumbent Weakness: A significant number of Democratic candidates outraised their Republican incumbents, an impressive and difficult feat.
• Democratic Command of Open Seats: Democratic candidates are taking clear fundraising leads in open seats, a strength that is accentuated by divisive Republican primaries. In all cases below,  the Democratic candidate outraised all Republican opponents.
• Outpacing Previous Quarters: House Democratic candidates and incumbents have outpaced their own fourth quarter 2015 fundraising.

“By all measures, House Democrats are on offense and will be prepared to seize on opportunities in the national environment and win big in November. You can’t add by subtracting, and Frontline Members are taking their races off the table with stellar first quarters and dominant cash on hand,”  said Meredith Kelly  of the DCCC. “What’s more, the fundraising success of dozens of Democratic challengers – who far outraised House Republican incumbents and opponents in open seats – demonstrates that Democrats will be prepared to out-work and beat their Republican opponents this fall.”