DNC outraises RNC for the first time in the 2020 election cycle


The Democratic National Committee (DNC) outraised the Republican National Committee (RNC) for the first time since October 2018 last month, according to April 2020 campaign finance reports filed with the FEC Monday.

The DNC raised $32.7 million and spent $11.0 million to the RNC’s $24.0 million in fundraising and $23.8 million in spending. So far in the 2020 cycle, the RNC has raised 73.9% more than the DNC ($318.6 million to $146.7 million). The RNC’s 73.9% fundraising advantage is down from 88.4% in March and 89.8% in February.

At this point in the 2016 campaign cycle (the most recent presidential cycle) the RNC had a smaller 44.5% fundraising advantage over the DNC ($137.9 million to $87.7 million).

The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) raised $11.0 million and spent $6.1 million last month, while the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) raised $9.1 million and spent $6.9 million. So far in the 2020 cycle, the NRSC has raised 7.0% more than the DSCC ($98.0 million to $91.3 million). The NRSC’s 7.0% fundraising advantage is down from 10.1% in March and 8.4% in February.

On the House side, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) raised $14.3 million and spent $6.2 million, while the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) raised $11.6 million and spent $7.9 million. So far in the cycle, the DCCC has raised 30.0% more than the NRCC ($168.4 million to $124.5 million). The DCCC’s 30.0% fundraising advantage is down from 30.9% in March and 33.4% in February.

At this point in the 2018 campaign cycle, Democrats led in both Senate and House fundraising, although their advantage in the House was smaller than in this cycle. The DSCC had raised 20.8% more than the NRSC ($71.3 million to $57.9 million), while the DCCC had raised 18.4% more than the NRCC ($139.7 million to $116.2 million).

So far in the 2020 cycle, the RNC, NRSC, and NRCC have raised 28.4% more than the DNC, DSCC, and DCCC ($541.0 million to $406.5 million). The Republican fundraising advantage is down from 35.0% in March and 35.3% in February.

Additional reading:
Democratic National Committee
Republican National Committee
Fundraising in Congressional elections, 2018