The House battleground for 2024 is closely split, as is the chamber itself. But being in the majority may be helping endangered Republicans get an advantage in fundraising, new filings with the Federal Election Commission show.
The 33 Republican incumbents in battleground races — defined as those rated Toss-up, Tilt, Lean or Likely by Inside Elections with Nathan L. Gonazales — raised a combined $19.1 million, compared with $14.7 million for the 31 Democratic incumbents with similar races ahead, a CQ Roll Call analysis found.
The average Republican in the group raised $580,000 to the average Democrat’s $529,000, and when the quarter ended the average Republican had nearly $1.5 million in their account to the average Democrat’s $1 million.
Montana Rep. Ryan Zinke topped the GOP group with $1.2 million raised during the quarter, while Alaska’s Mary Peltola topped the Democratic field by raising $827,000. Pennsylvania’s Brian Fitzpatrick had the most cash on hand, with $3.3 million.The Democrat in the group with the biggest bankroll was Washington’s Kim Schrier, with $1.7 million.
Still, there was bad news in the filings for several incumbents who saw potential opponents raise more than they did.
Topping that list was Colorado Republican firebrand Lauren Boebert, who won the narrowest victory in 2022. Boebert took in $854,000 while the Democrat who nearly beat her and is trying again, Adam Frisch, raised $3.4 million. Frisch’s account had $4.3 million to Boebert’s $1.4 million at the end of the quarter.
Here are other takeaways from the latest reports, which cover July through September and were due at the FEC by the end of Sunday.
New York
New York is a focal point of the House battlefield this cycle, with six freshmen Republicans running for reelection in competitive races. Three of those Republicans, Reps. George Santos, Mike Lawler and Marc Molinaro, were outraised in the third quarter, although Lawler and Molinaro both hold an advantage over their challengers in cash on hand.
Santos, who was indicted on 10 new federal charges last week bringing the total number of charges he faces to 23, reported a negative fundraising for the third quarter and had $23,000 on hand. Several Democrats and Republicans outraised Santos.
In a Toss-up 17th District race, Lawler raised $840,000 and had $2.1 million on hand, while former Democratic Rep. Mondaire Jones raised $1.1 million and $848,000 on hand. Democrat Liz Gereghty, the sister of Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, raised $173,000 and had $310,000 on hand, while Maryann Carr raised $12,000 and had nearly $10,000 on hand.
Molinaro faces a potential rematch with Democrat Josh Riley, who he defeated by 1.6 percentage points last year. Molinaro raised $503,000 and had $1.3 million on hand, while Riley raised $573,000 and had $1 million on hand. Inside Elections rates the 19th District race as Tilt Republican.
Reps. Anthony D’Esposito and Brandon Williams, who also face Toss-up races, both outraised their opponents. D’Esposito reported raising $358,000 and had $1.1 million on hand. Democratic state Sen. Kevin Thomas raised $211,000 and had $111,000 on hand. Former Hempstead Town Supervisor Laura Gillen, who last year lost to D’Esposito, raised $161,00 and had $391,000 on hand.
Williams raised $285,000 and had $861,000 on hand. That was more than three Democrats seeking to challenge him. Sarah Klee Hood raised $238,000 and had $252,000 on hand, while John Mannion raised $221,000 and had $151,000 on hand and Clemmie Harris raised $22,000 and had $33,000.
In the Lean Republican 1st District, Rep. Nick LaLota raised $313,000 and had $1 million on hand. Democratic former state Sen. James Gaughran raised $126,000 and had $110,000 on hand, while New York City administrative law judge Craig Herskowitz raised $106,000 and had $104,000 on hand.
California
The Golden State is home to one of the most expensive media markets in the U.S. and candidates in competitive districts are raising significant sums. In the 41st District, Republican Rep. Ken Calvert brought in more than $731,000 but he was still outraised by his Democratic opponent, Will Rollins, who hauled in almost $837,000. The race is a rematch and both candidates have amassed large warchests: Calvert had $2 million on hand while Rollins had $1.5 million.
In the open House seat in the 47th District, Republican Scott Baugh is making his third run after losing by 3 points to Rep. Katie Porter, who is running for Senate. Baugh raised $418,000 and had $1,4 million on hand. Democrat David Min collected $311,000, and had $826,000 on hand, while Democrat Joanna Weiss raised $400,000 and had $833,000 in the bank. Weiss’ receipts included a $100,000 personal loan.
In the 27th District, Republican Rep. Mike Garcia raised $764,000 and had about $1.6 million in his campaign account; his Democratic challenger, George Whitesides, raised $709,000 after putting $300,000 of his own money in, and had $1.7 million on hand.
In the 13th District, which, like the 27th has a race rated as a Toss-up, Republican Rep. John Duarte raised $455,000 and had $1.2 million on hand. His Democratic challenger, Adam Gray, who lost to Duarte in 2022, raised $223,000, and had $197,000 on hand.
California Rep. Mike Levin raised $511,000 and had $1.1 million on hand, while two of the four Republicans seeking to run against him in the 47th District raised more. Margarita Wilkinson, a media executive, raised $1 million including a $825,000 personal loan and had $882,000 on hand, while businessman Matt Gunderson raised $596,000 and had $790,000 on hand. The race is rated Likely Democratic.
Possible rematches
In New Mexico’s 2nd District, freshman Democratic Rep. Gabe Vasquez raised $421,000 and had $875,000 on hand. His Republican opponent in the Toss-up district, former Rep. Yvette Herrell, brought in $242,000, and had $516,000 in the bank.
In another Toss-up race, in Oregon’s 5th District, Republican Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer once again may face her 2022 Democratic opponent, Jamie McLeod-Skinner. Chavez-DeRemer raised $621,000, had $1.3 million on hand; McLeod-Skinner raised $259,000 and had $155,000. Another Democrat, Janelle Bynum, raised $188,000 and had $274,0000 on hand.
In Washington’s 3rd District, also a Toss-up race, Democratic Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez took in $603,000, and had about $1.6 million on hand. Republican Joe Kent raised $198,000 and had $443,000 on hand. Another Republican, Leslie Lewallen, raised $78,859.
In another rematch, Republican Rep. Don Bacon in Nebraska’s 2nd District was outraised by his Democratic opponent, Tony Vargas. Bacon brought in $532,000 and had about $1 million on hand. Vargas raised about $870,000 and has $752,000 in his campaign account.
Other incumbents outraised
A handful of other incumbents in closely-watched races were also outraised, although most maintained a higher amount of cash on hand than their challengers. Arizona Rep. David Schweikert raised $367,000 and had $802,000 on hand. One Democratic challenger, Andrei Cherny, raised $375,000 and had $721,000 on hand. Four other Democrats also reported raising money in the 1st District, where the race is rated Tilt Republican.
Republican Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks raised $467,000 and had $1.4 million on hand, while former Iowa state Rep. Christina Bohannan, a Democrat, raised $664,000 and had $637,000 on hand. The race in Iowa’s 1st District is rated Lean Republican.
New Hampshire Rep. Chris Pappas, whose 1st District race is rated Lean Democratic, raised $340,000 and had $890,000 on hand, while Republican Russell Prescott raised $463,000 but had $437,000 on hand. Prescott’s total included $350,000 he loaned to his campaign.
Nevada Democratic Rep. Dina Titus trailed one of her Republican challengers in both third quarter receipts and cash on hand. Titus raised $122,000 and had $441,000 on hand, while Republican restaurateur Flemming Larsen raised $273,000, including a $200,000 personal loan, and had $962,000 on hand. The 1st District race is rated Likely Democratic.
In North Carolina, incumbents are waiting for the state legislature to draw new district maps for the 2024 elections, but that hasn’t stopped candidates from getting into races. Because the district lines aren’t set, Inside Elections hasn’t rated the races, but the National Republican Congressional Committee is targeting three Democrats who were outraised this quarter, in part because of personal loans to GOP campaigns.
In the 1st District, Rep. Don Davis raised $261,000 and had $491,000 on hand, while Republican Sandy Smith, his opponent in 2022, raised $341,000, including a $250,000 loan, and had $314,000 on hand.
Democratic Rep. Wiley Nickel raised $356,000 and had $933,000 on hand. Erin Pare, one of four Republicans running in the 13th District, raised $600,000, including a $400,000 loan, and had $596,000 on hand.
In the 14th District, Rep. Jeff Jackson raised $116,000 and had $707,000 on hand, while Republican Pat Harrigan, an Army Special Forces veteran, raised $753,000, including a $500,000 loan, and had $754,000 on hand.
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