Democratic Party’s Senate Candidates Hold Significant Cash Advantage

The Senate side of the U.S. Capitol, on April 8, 2024. Madalina Vasiliu/The Epoch Times

By one measure, Democratic Party candidates hold a commanding lead in the race to retain control of the Senate.

Four races—in Ohio, Montana, Nevada, and Arizona—are expected to be competitive in the contest for the upper house and should attract large amounts of spending from the Democratic Party, Republican Party, and outside spenders.

According to quarterly filings with the Federal Election Commission, Democrats currently enjoy a comprehensive cash advantage in terms of their principal campaign committees. Quarterly filings were released on April 15. Monthly filings will complete the fundraising picture for each race when they are released on April 20.

Ohio

Only one race for the Senate is officially set. In Ohio, Sen. Sherrod Brown, a Democrat, will face off against Republican candidate Bernie Moreno in the November general election.

Mr. Brown’s principal campaign committee, Friends of Sherrod Brown, had nearly $16 million in cash on hand at the end of March, according to FEC filings. Since the beginning of 2023, the fund has raised about $34.1 million and spent about $25 million.

Mr. Moreno, who won the Buckeye State’s GOP primary in March, had only about $1.8 million in his principal campaign committee, Bernie Moreno For Senate, at the end of March.

In the current election cycle, which began in January 2023, Mr. Moreno’s principal committee has raised $6.2 million and spent $9.1 million. The committee owes $4.5 million in loans, according to the FEC.

Mr. Moreno defeated two other major Republican challengers in the primary race, which drained his campaign funds, but he was endorsed by former President Donald Trump.

Montana

In the Treasure State, Sen. Jon Tester (D-Mont.) will defend his seat in pursuit of a fourth term in the Senate. The leading Republican candidate is Tim Sheehy. Mr. Sheehy, the founder of Bridger Aerospace Group Holdings Inc., is endorsed by President Trump.

Montana’s primary election will be held on June 4, according to the Montana Secretary of State.

Mr. Tester’s principal campaign committee, Montanans for Tester, held about $12.7 million in cash on hand at the end of March. In the 2023 cycle, the committee has raised about $31.1 million and spent about $21 million, according to the FEC.

Mr. Sheehy, a former Navy SEAL, had about $1.9 million in cash on hand at the end of March in his principal campaign committee, Tim Sheehy for Montana, according to the FEC. In this election cycle, the committee took in about $5.8 million and expended about $6.4 million through March. The committee owes about $1.5 million in debts.

Nevada

Sen. Jacky Rosen, a Democrat, is seeking her second term in the Senate but is likely up for a close race in the November election. She will find out which Republican candidate will appear on that ballot after the state holds its primary election. The Silver State’s primary will be held on June 11, according to the Nevada Secretary of State.

Ms. Rosen’s principal campaign committee, Rosen for Nevada, held about $13.2 million at the end of March, according to the FEC. The same committee brought in about $19.9 million and expended about $11 million between January 2023 and March 2024.

The senator faces a crowded Republican field. Right now, polling indicates Sam Brown, a decorated U.S. Army veteran and small businessman, is the leading GOP candidate.

Mr. Brown’s principal campaign committee held $2.3 million in cash on hand at the end of March, according to the FEC. In the current election cycle, the committee has raised about $5.3 million and spent about $3 million.

Kari Lake, 2024 US Senate candidate from Arizona, speaks during CPAC in National Harbor, Md., on Feb. 24, 2024. Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images

Arizona

With Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (I-Ariz.) dropping out of the race, her seat in the Senate will be hotly contested. Primaries will be held on July 30, according to the Arizona Secretary of State.

It appears that Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) will face Republican Kari Lake in the November race. According to the FEC, Mr. Gallego retains a significant cash advantage over Ms. Lake.

Mr. Gallego’s principal campaign committee, Gallego for Arizona, had about $9.6 million in cash on hand at the end of March, according to the FEC. Since January 2023, the committee has collected about $20.9 million and expended $12.6 million.

Kari Lake for Senate, Ms. Lake’s principal campaign committee, held about $2.5 million in cash on hand at the end of March. In this election cycle, it has raised about $5 million while spending about $3.1 million.