In the first month with Vice President Kamala Harris at the top of the party’s ticket, the Democratic Party seized the fundraising lead from the Republican Party.
On Aug. 20, committees affiliated with the United States’ major political parties published financial disclosures covering their July activities.
The Federal Election Commission (FEC) filings show that the main Democratic bodies collectively raised about $63.3 million during the month, while the main Republican committees raised about $59.6 million.
July was an exceptionally eventful month in presidential politics.
Former president Donald Trump survived an assassination attempt on July 13 and days later received the Republican Party’s third nomination for president at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee.
Three days after the GOP convention wrapped up, on July 21, President Joe Biden dropped out of the presidential race and endorsed Harris as the Democratic Party’s candidate. Biden was the first sitting president to exit his reelection race since former President Lyndon Johnson did it in 1968 and the first to do it only weeks before his party’s convention.
According to the FEC, the Democratic National Committee (DNC) raised about $30.9 million and spent about $43.4 million in July. It entered August with about $65.8 million in cash on hand.
The Republican National Committee (RNC), individually, raised more than the DNC by a slight margin. It brought in about $30.9 million and used about $33.5 million in July. It started August with about $99.1 million in cash on hand.
According to previous filings, the RNC brought in about $66.9 million in June while spending $19.4 million. The RNC began July with about $101.6 million in cash on hand.
The DNC, on the other hand, raised about $39.2 million in June. It used about $26.1 million and started July with about $78.3 million in cash on hand.
In Congress, both the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) held more cash on hand at the end of July than their Republican Party rivals.
The congressional committees exist primarily to raise money and donate to the campaigns of candidates running for seats in the House or Senate.
At the end of July, the National Republican Senate Committee (NRSC) held about $51 million, and the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) held about $73.3 million. The NRSC collected about $17 million and disbursed about $14.3 million. The NRCC took in about $14.3 million and sent out about $8.2 million.
The DSCC closed July with about $59.3 million in cash on hand, while the DCCC ended the month with about $92 million.
The DSCC raised $14.9 million during the month and spent about $8.6 million. The DCCC earned about $17.6 million in contributions while using about $13.4 million.
In the 118th Congress, Republicans remain the majority party in the House despite some departures.
In the Senate, Republicans hold 49 of the 100 seats, and Democrats have 47, with four independents who caucus with the Democrats.
All 435 House seats and one-third of the Senate seats are up for election in November.
