Senate Democratic Super PAC Amasses Record $147 Million in Second Quarter as Midterm Funding Battle Intensifies

The leading Senate Democratic super PAC and its affiliated nonprofit raised $147 million from April through June, marking their strongest second-quarter haul on record as the party attempts to reclaim the chamber in November’s midterm elections.

Senate Majority PAC, the super PAC aligned with Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York, collected $58 million and entered July with $126 million in reserves — more cash at this stage of the cycle than in any previous election year. Together with Majority Forward, its associated nonprofit, the operation is positioned to spend heavily across this year’s most competitive Senate races.

Despite the record quarter, Democrats were playing financial catch-up against Republican counterparts heading into the period. Through the end of March, the Senate Leadership Fund, the premier GOP super PAC, held more than double the cash on hand of its Democratic rival, boasting a $92 million advantage. The Republican group has not yet disclosed its second-quarter fundraising; the latest quarterly reports are due to the Federal Election Commission by July 15.

Democrats need a net gain of at least four seats to retake the Senate, a challenging path that has appeared more viable in recent months. President Trump’s low approval ratings and economic concerns have created opportunities for the minority party.

“It’s a big map, not just because of the number of states, but the size of the states,” said J.B. Poersch, president of Senate Majority PAC, in an interview. “Places like Georgia, North Carolina, Ohio — they’re not cheap dates.”

Democrats are also contending with internal setbacks, most notably the collapse of their Senate nominee’s campaign in Maine, a critical battleground. Candidate Graham Platner announced Wednesday he was suspending his campaign under pressure from his party following a rape allegation he denied, leaving Democrats scrambling to field a replacement against Republican Senator Susan Collins.

Poersch said his group will spend in support of whoever emerges as the Democratic nominee in Maine. It remains unclear who that will be, with several candidates moving to fill the void.

Groups backing Collins have already aired millions of dollars in television advertising across the state, and the race is expected to grow only more expensive as November approaches.

Overall, Republican committees had out-raised their Democratic counterparts by a staggering $600 million entering April, according to a New York Times analysis. President Trump’s super PAC and the Republican National Committee have reported particularly strong fundraising this cycle relative to Democratic equivalents.

Beyond Maine, Democrats see pickup opportunities in North Carolina, Ohio, Alaska, Iowa, and Texas. They are also defending an open seat in Michigan, a state Republicans view as a prime target, where a contentious Democratic primary is underway.

Both parties rely heavily on super PACs, which can raise and spend unlimited sums, and nonprofits, which are not required to disclose their donors. The distinction between the two has blurred in recent cycles as nonprofits finance waves of advertising in key Senate contests.

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