While Senate Democrats were meeting over lunch to decide whether or not they want to stick with President Joe Biden as their nominee, Senate Republicans were having their own lunch and taking a victory lap.
With the balance of the Senate up for grabs and Republicans in a prime position to regain control, the National Republican Senatorial Committee announced at the Senate Republican Conference lunch on Tuesday that they had raised $18.5 million in June — their best month of June ever, according to a source who attended the meeting. (Their next highest June was in 2020, when they raised $14 million.)
Their big month leaves the Republican Senate campaign arm with $48.3 million cash on hand, also the most money the committee has ever had on hand at this point in a cycle. The committee also announced it had netted over $22 million through digital fundraising this cycle as well, the source said. To date, the NRSC has raised $164.3 million.
Republicans are optimistic about their chances of taking back the Senate this cycle. With independent Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia announcing that he won’t be running again, the GOP feels Manchin all but handed that seat over to Republicans, meaning they only have to pick up one seat to take the majority outright.
With Biden floundering in swing states even before his recent debate debacle, Republicans are more bullish than ever about their chances across the map. Especially in deep red states such as Montana — where former President Donald Trump won by 16 points in 2020 — and where Democratic Sen. Jon Tester is trying to hold onto his seat.
Biden’s unpopularity is exactly what Republicans think they need to decimate Democrats down ballot.
When asked for comment on the numbers, NRSC Communications Director Mike Berg said their team is “working hard to ensure Republicans are in a position to capitalize on Joe Biden’s historic unpopularity and send his rubber stamp Senate enablers home.”
“We’ve been overwhelmed by the support from grassroots donors who see the historic opportunity Republicans have to build an enduring Republican majority in 2024,” Berg said.
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Reese Gorman is a reporter at NOTUS.