DCCC outraises NRCC with record-breaking third-quarter haul

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee brought in $35.1 million in the third fundraising quarter, outraising its Republican counterpart by $4.2 million and breaking DCCC records.

The haul marks the largest fundraising quarter in the history of the group, and brings the DCCC's fundraising total for the cycle to $142.4 million — $14 million more than the National Republican Congressional Committee has raised thus far. The DCCC took in $2.9 million more than the NRCC in September alone.

But the DCCC has been burning through its funds faster than its Republican counterpart, indicated by a persistent cash-on-hand deficit. Democrats posed $26.4 million cash on hand at the end of the third quarter, compared to the $29.5 million reported by Republicans. However, that marks a narrowing of what was a $10 million cash-on-hand deficit for the Democrats at the end of August.

DCCC Chairman Rep. Steve Israel (N.Y.) said in a statement the lead was the result of "a record outpouring of grassroots support."

Democrats are facing an uphill battle in their effort to retake the House. They're hoping to net 25 seats this November, a tall order for a party facing a number of fierce Republican challengers in races nationwide.

Though a number of Democratic contenders and incumbents have posted surprisingly strong showings, The Hill still predicts that the minority party will pick up at best a dozen seats, only half the number it would need to retake the lower chamber.

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