The Congressional Leadership Fund (CLF), a prominent outside group supporting House Republicans, has announced its most successful fundraising quarter to date. During the third quarter of 2024, the CLF raised a staggering $81.4 million, marking a new record for the organization.
With the upcoming November elections approaching and the GOP striving to maintain and expand its slim House majority, the CLF revealed that it has allocated an additional $11 million for new ad reservations. This news was initially disclosed on Tuesday.
CLF President Dan Conston expressed confidence in the group's fundraising efforts, stating, 'We continue to raise at levels that will allow us to be incredibly impactful this cycle.' The funds raised in the past three months surpass the CLF's previous record of $77.4 million in the third quarter of 2020.
Notably, the CLF currently holds $152.8 million in cash on hand as of the end of September, positioning it well for the upcoming elections. The organization emphasized that it has slightly outpaced its Democratic counterpart in total fundraising for this election cycle.
Despite initial concerns following the removal of former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, the CLF's fundraising efforts have exceeded expectations. The group credited House Speaker Mike Johnson for maintaining strong fundraising momentum and building upon McCarthy's legacy.
In addition to the substantial fundraising achievements, the CLF announced new ad reservations totaling $190 million for key GOP races. These funds will be directed towards both offensive and defensive House races, with a focus on districts where the Republicans aim to secure victories.
Specifically, the CLF plans to bolster ad buys in Democrat-held districts targeted for flipping, such as Colorado's 8th Congressional District, New Mexico's 2nd Congressional District, and Maine's 2nd Congressional District. The organization also intends to counter Democratic spending in districts where the GOP is defending seats, including New York 19, Wisconsin 03, and Arizona 06.
Currently, the GOP holds a narrow 220-212 majority in the 435-member House of Representatives, with two Democrat-held and one Republican-held seats vacant.
