Q2 Campaign Finance Reports Show Democrats Out-raising Republicans Amid New Supreme Court Ruling

Federal Election Commission filings for the second quarter (April – June) reveal that Democratic Senate candidates are consistently out-raising their Republican rivals, while House contests remain more evenly matched. In Texas, Democratic state Rep. James Talarico reported raising $28 million, leaving him with $21.5 million on hand, compared with Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton, who posted $1.6 million. Georgia’s Sen. Jon Ossoff entered July with a $43 million cash balance, while GOP challenger Rep. Mike Collins held $2.1 million. In Alaska, Democrat Mary Peltola raised $6.9 million versus Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan’s $2 million, though Sullivan ends the quarter with $8.3 million in the bank versus Peltola’s $6.1 million.

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A Supreme Court ruling issued on the last day of the quarter eliminates previous limits on coordination and fundraising between party committees and candidates. The decision “paves the way for party committees and candidates to coordinate and fundraise unlimited amounts of money,” a change that analysts say could give Republicans a “critical boost in key Senate races where their finances are lagging.”

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• Michigan Democratic primary: The AIPAC-affiliated United Democracy Project (UDP) has spent more than $15 million this year supporting Rep. Haley Stevens. Progressive challenger Abdul El-Sayed raised $4.5 million, out-raising Stevens $2.1 million, but UDP’s ad-tracking firm AdImpact reports $28 million in spending and ad reservations for the contest.

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• North Carolina open seat: Former Governor Roy Cooper (D) raised $8.1 million, holding $21 million cash-on-hand; Republican former Rep. Mike Rogers posted a $2.9 million haul and $5.7 million banked.

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• Wisconsin gubernatorial primary: Sara Rodriguez raised $560,000, spent $520,000, and now has under $35,000 cash-on-hand, far behind Mandela Barnes ($840,000 raised, $200,000 bank) and Francesca Hong ($700,000 raised, $400,000 bank).

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Republican Rep. Mike Lawler (NY) raised $1.4 million and closed the quarter with $4.8 million in the bank, out-pacing Democrat Cait Conley (who raised $1.7 million but held $1.3 million). In Arizona, Republican Juan Ciscomani raised just under $1.1 million yet retained $4.1 million cash, while Democrat JoAnna Mendoza raised $2 million and held $3.2 million.

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Progressive-moderate splits are evident. In Michigan, El-Sayed’s criticism of Stevens includes the claim, “If Congresswoman Stevens makes it or Mike Rogers wins, either way, Israel will win.” Stevens has highlighted criticism of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, while UDP ads focus on attacking El-Sayed rather than his Israel stance. Wisconsin’s Rodriguez campaign disclosed double-counted contributions, prompting a manager’s dismissal and a cash shortfall that threatens her viability.

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• “Democrats have the resources to deliver their message to voters despite Republican attempts to rig the midterms and distract voters from their broken promises on rising costs, the economy, and the war.” — Viet Shelton, spokesperson, Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee

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• “While vulnerable House Democrats struggle to keep pace, Republicans are building the war chest needed to defend our majority, expand the map, and win in November.” — Mike Marinella, spokesperson, National Republican Congressional Committee

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Progressive activists have denounced UDP’s heavy spending as a proxy battle over Israel policy, arguing that the super PAC’s financial muscle skews the Michigan primary. Wisconsin Democrats warn that Rodriguez’s finance errors expose vulnerabilities in campaign oversight.

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• “If Congresswoman Stevens makes it or Mike Rogers wins, either way, Israel will win,” — Abdul El-Sayed, Democratic Senate primary candidate (Michigan)

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• “The campaign is going to move forward,” — Sara Rodriguez, Democratic gubernatorial candidate (Wisconsin)

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• “The filings show Democrats “have the resources to deliver their message to voters despite Republican attempts to rig the midterms and distract voters from their broken promises on rising costs, the economy, and the war,’’ Viet Shelton, spokesperson for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, said in a statement.” — Viet Shelton, DCCC spokesperson

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• “While vulnerable House Democrats struggle to keep pace, Republicans are building the war chest needed to defend our majority, expand the map, and win in November,” — Mike Marinella, NRCC spokesperson

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• Michigan Senate primary: August 4

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• Wisconsin gubernatorial primary: early September

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• Ongoing Senate and House primaries through November will test whether the new fundraising landscape reshapes electoral dynamics.

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