Five Takeaways From The Latest Campaign Fundraising Reports: Totals Raise Questions About Two Key Senators

Fundraising reports revenge Tuesday shed caller ray connected nan conflict for power of Congress successful nan 2026 midterm elections, pinch immoderate shows of spot and immoderate informing signs for lawmakers facing reliable races.

Republicans are defending nan slimmest of majorities successful nan House and a mostly successful nan Senate adjacent year, and GOP candidates person struggled to compete pinch Democratic fundraising successful caller predetermination cycles.

The fundraising reports item candidates who are starting to hole for competitory races and others who whitethorn beryllium lagging. The astir caller filings pinch nan Federal Election Commission screen money raised and spent from April done June.

Here are 5 takeaways from nan latest reports:

Cornyn and Ernst enactment successful nan spotlight

Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, has been facing questions complete whether he will beryllium capable to flooded a situation from his correct flank by authorities GOP Attorney General Ken Paxton. And while nan caller reports show Cornyn’s full governmental cognition brought successful a important haul, nan study won’t needfully quiet concerns astir his expertise to push backmost a challenger.

Comparing nonstop fundraising into nan 2 candidates’ charismatic campaigns, Paxton outraised Cornyn $2.9 cardinal to $804,000. It was nan second-lowest quarterly haul from Cornyn’s run crossed 2013-2014, 2019-2020 and nan existent predetermination rhythm — nan caller times that Cornyn has been preparing to take sides his seat.

Cornyn besides fundraised into different group supporting his campaign: a associated fundraising committee that brought successful $3.1 million. Much of that money tin beryllium utilized successful support of Cornyn’s bid, but not each tin beryllium straight transferred to his campaign. Cornyn closed June pinch $5.9 cardinal successful his run account, compared to Paxton’s $2.5 million.

Iowa GOP Sen. Joni Ernst’s haul is notable, too. She hasn’t officially announced she’s moving for different term, though she did bring connected a run manager. Still, location has been speculation astir whether she could determine to retire. She raised $722,000 past 4th — little than immoderate 4th during her 2020 bid.

Two of Ernst’s imaginable Democratic opponents fundraised conscionable beneath her full haul for nan quarter. She still holds a important cash-on-hand advantage complete her imaginable Democratic opponents, pinch $3.4 cardinal successful her account.

"Instead of fundraising trips and gathering pinch millionaires, Senator Ernst has been difficult astatine activity advancing President Trump's schedule and delivering a taxation break for hardworking Iowans," Ernst’s run head Brian Kraber said successful a connection to NBC News. "With complete $3.4 cardinal rate connected manus and nan beardown support of Iowans successful each area of nan state, Joni isn't slowing down anytime soon."

The astir susceptible Senate incumbents amass warfare chests

Georgia Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff and Maine Republican Sen. Susan Collins are nan 2 astir susceptible incumbent Senators connected nan representation adjacent year. And they spent past period fundraising for illustration it.

Ossoff, nan only Democratic legislator moving for re-election successful a authorities President Donald Trump carried successful 2024, continues to people money, pursuing up an $11.2 cardinal first fundraising 4th pinch a $10 cardinal 2nd quarter, ending June pinch a whopping $15.5 cardinal connected hand. While nan GOP superior title to return him connected adjacent autumn is still materializing, only Rep. Buddy Carter raised a seven-figure sum, $3 cardinal aft a $2 cardinal indebtedness from nan candidate.

Collins, nan only Republican legislator defending a authorities erstwhile Vice President Kamala Harris won past year, posted a beardown fundraising haul for her much-smaller state: $2.4 million. Her apical Democratic force truthful far, erstwhile legislature adjutant Jordan Wood, raised $1.6 million, which included a $250,000 campaigner loan.

Collins has much than six times nan cash-on-hand than Wood does.

Battleground Senate primaries return shape

The latest fundraising reports besides shed ray connected hotly contested primaries successful cardinal Senate battlegrounds.

Democratic Sen. Gary Peters’ determination not to tally for re-election successful Michigan has led to a contested Democratic primary, pinch Rep. Haley Stevens starring nan superior section pinch a $2.8 cardinal haul, though that included a $1.5 cardinal transportation from her House campaign. State Sen. Mallory McMorrow raised $2.1 million, erstwhile Wayne County wellness head Abdul El-Sayed raised $1.8 million, and erstwhile authorities House Speaker Joe Tate raised $192,000.

Stevens ended nan 4th pinch much rate connected manus than her superior opponents, banking astir $2 million.

Former GOP Rep. Mike Rogers’ run raised $745,000 and ended nan 4th pinch $1.1 cardinal connected hand. The Rogers run besides touted $779,000 raised by nan candidate’s associated fundraising committee, which is tied to nan campaign, nan National Republican Senatorial Committee, different Rogers PAC and a ace PAC. The associated fundraising committee ended nan 4th pinch $770,000 connected hand.

Rogers, who is moving for Senate again aft losing a adjacent title past year, could look a superior contempt having endorsements from nan NRSC and Senate Majority Leader John Thune. Rep. Bill Huizenga has besides been weighing a Senate tally and his run raised $747,000 successful nan 2nd quarter.

A Democratic superior is besides underway successful Minnesota, a perchance competitory authorities wherever Democratic Sen. Tina Smith is retiring.

Rep. Angie Craig outraised Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan by pulling successful astir $2.5 million, including much than $600,000 from her House campaign, and ending nan 4th pinch $1.8 cardinal connected hand. Flanagan raised $917,000 and banked distant $783,000.

Royce White, nan only Republican successful nan title truthful far, raised conscionable $125,000.

Republicans person a contested superior to return connected Ossoff successful Georgia, wherever Carter led nan GOP section successful fundraising acknowledgment successful portion to his sizable loan. Insurance Commissioner John King raised $518,000 and ended nan 4th pinch $450,000 connected hand.

Millions move into safe-seat primaries

Then location are nan fistful of Senate primaries that will apt determine who heads to Washington successful 2027 because nan states overwhelmingly support Republicans aliases Democrats.

The astir consequential whitethorn beryllium Louisiana, wherever Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy’s political profession is connected nan line amid a situation from nan blimpish helping of his party. The incumbent raised $1.6 cardinal and closed June pinch $8.7 cardinal banked away. His main superior opponent, authorities Treasurer John Fleming, loaned himself $2 cardinal and raised different $115,000 from individuals. State Sen. Blake Miguez loaned himself $1 cardinal and raised different $800,000 from individuals.

Then location are 2 unfastened seats — 1 successful reddish Kentucky to switch nan retiring Sen. Mitch McConnell and different successful bluish Illinois to switch nan retiring Sen. Richard Durbin.

GOP Rep. Andy Barr flexed his fundraising muscles past quarter, raising $1.4 cardinal and ending pinch much than $6 cardinal banked away. State Attorney General Daniel Cameron raised nether $400,000 pinch astir $500,000 successful rate connected hand, while businessman Nate Morris, who is besides running, announced his run aft nan books closed.

The Democratic title to switch Durbin is shaping up to beryllium expensive, pinch Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi reporting a $12.7 cardinal haul (including $10 cardinal successful transfers from his flush House campaign). The congressman has besides already deed nan airwaves, launching a TV ad this week. Rep. Robin Kelly raised astir $2.5 cardinal (mostly a transportation from her House campaign) and Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton raised astir $1.1 million.

House lawmakers hole for fights up

The conflict for nan House is besides continuing to return shape, pinch Democrats looking to nett 3 seats to return power of nan chamber. And lawmakers connected some sides of nan aisle are filling their run coffers up of reliable races.

Of nan 38 incumbents successful races rated arsenic “toss-ups” aliases only “leaning” to 1 statement aliases nan different by nan Cook Political Report pinch Amy Walter, 7 GOP House members and 1 Democrat raised much than $1 million.

Rep. Young Kim, R-Calif., led nan battalion pinch much than $2 cardinal raised successful nan quarter, followed by Rep. Eugene Vindman, D-Va., pinch a $1.6 cardinal haul. Other lawmakers successful competitory districts pinch million-dollar quarters see GOP Reps. Mike Lawler of New York, Ken Calvert of California, Mariannette Miller-Meeks of Iowa, Derek Van Orden of Wisconsin, Juan Ciscomani of Arizona and Tom Barrett of Michigan.

Only a fewer incumbents successful nan astir competitory races connected nan representation were outraised a challenger, but they did truthful acknowledgment to individual loans to their campaign.

Arizona Democrat Jonathan Treble raised $1 cardinal to GOP Rep. David Schweikert’s $740,000, but nan Democrat contributed astir $672,000 of his ain money.

Democratic Reps. Don Davis of North Carolina and Susie Lee of Nevada were besides outraised by challengers who are utilizing their ain money — successful North Carolina, Republican Sandy Roberson raised $2.3 cardinal to Davis’ $700,000 and successful Nevada, Republican Marty O’Donnell raised $3 million. Roberson loaned his run $2 cardinal and O’Donnell loaned his $3 million.

Texas Democratic Rep. Henry Cuellar, who is facing a national indictment, had nan other dynamic. His $460,000 4th outpaced his opponents, but that’s only because he loaned his run $200,000.