GOP's $95M cash on hand dwarfs Democrats' $14M ahead of midterms: Report

WASHINGTON, DC: The Republican National Committee (RNC) is heading into the midterm election cycle with a bankroll Democrats can only envy.

According to year-end filings with the Federal Election Commission, the RNC closed out 2025 with a staggering $95 million cash on hand, compared to just $14 million for the Democratic National Committee (DNC), which is also starting the new year $17 million in debt, the Associated Press reported.

In raw fundraising terms, Republicans still came out on top. The RNC raised $172 million in 2025, while the DNC brought in $145 million. But in terms of what’s left in the bank, Republicans are reportedly sitting on nearly $100 million, while Democrats are effectively underwater.

The cash disparity comes as both parties brace for a turbulent midterm cycle. Republicans currently control the White House and both chambers of Congress. Such a setup historically gives challengers an edge when voters head to the polls.

House and Senate money fights tighten up

While the national party committees show a clear Republican advantage, the battle for control of Congress itself is far closer.

House Republicans finished one of their strongest fundraising years, pulling in $13 million in December alone and closing 2025 with more than $117 million for the National Republican Congressional Committee, which is the GOP’s main House campaign arm. House Democrats weren’t far behind, reporting $115 million raised for the year.

Both House committees entered 2026 with roughly $50 million cash on hand, according to filings due to the FEC this weekend. A similar situation is playing out on the Senate side.

The National Republican Senatorial Committee raised $88 million in 2025 and ended the year with $19.3 million cash on hand. The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee raised $79.8 million, but actually finished with a slightly stronger cushion with $21.7 million cash on hand.

House Speaker Mike Johnson said on Sunday, February 1, that the GOP’s overall fundraising picture has left him optimistic heading into the midterms, despite the party’s slim House majority.

“We’re going to have a war chest to run on,” Johnson (R-LA) said on 'Fox News Sunday', adding that he’s “bullish” on Republicans not only holding the House but expanding their numbers.

That confidence, however, comes with caveats. 

Democrats say Republicans are 'running scared'

Since the start of the new year, the country has been rocked by major events such as a US military operation in Venezuela and the fatal shooting of two American citizens in Minneapolis during ICE operations. Whether those developments lead to lasting shifts in voter behavior or donor enthusiasm remains an open question.

But Democrats argue that money isn’t the whole story. “Momentum is on our side,” said Viet Shelton, a spokesman for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. Shelton insisted Republicans are “running scared,” arguing Democrats have stronger candidates and a more compelling message as they try to flip control of the House.

President Donald Trump has publicly warned his party about what’s at stake if Republicans stumble in the midterms, including the possibility of another impeachment if Democrats reclaim the lower chamber.

“You gotta win the midterms. Because if we don’t win the midterms…they’ll find a reason to impeach me,” Trump told the Republican conference at its retreat at the Kennedy Center last month. “I’ll get impeached,” he added.

Democrats are also moving aggressively on the ground. In January, the party launched what it says is the largest voter registration campaign in DNC history as it targeted younger voters in battleground states. The effort carries a seven-figure price tag, a sign Democrats are trying hard to compensate for their fundraising gap.

“The midterms are here, and at the DNC, we refuse to let anybody else dictate this election season — we’re setting the tone,” DNC Chair Ken Martin said in a statement.