Analysis of Republican Fundraising Disparity: McCarthy vs. Johnson

The Republican Party is facing a fundraising challenge as new federal filings show that House Speaker Mike Johnson is struggling to match the fundraising prowess of his predecessor, Kevin McCarthy. Johnson announced raising $20 million in the first quarter of the year, significantly less than McCarthy’s impressive fundraising numbers in previous years.

McCarthy, who resigned from Congress in December, still has $6.3 million in his personal campaign account, which he is directing towards other campaign efforts. He has also been distributing funds to allies and making contributions to candidates running for office.

The latest FEC records also shed light on the fundraising efforts of Senate GOP whip John Thune and Texas Sen. John Cornyn, who are vying to succeed Mitch McConnell as their party’s Senate leader. Both senators have been strategically moving money around to win influence and jockey for votes within the party.

On the Democratic side, the Senate Majority PAC significantly outraised its GOP counterpart, the Senate Leadership Fund. The Democratic super PAC has announced plans to spend $239 million on key races, while the Senate Leadership Fund has announced $130 million in fall reservations.

The FEC filings also revealed how retiring members of Congress are managing their leftover campaign funds. Independent Sen. Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona, who announced she would not be running for reelection, spent roughly $180,000 on various expenses in the month following her announcement. Retiring Sen. Joe Manchin’s leadership PAC donated $5,000 to a candidate seeking to succeed him in West Virginia.

Overall, the latest FEC reports provide insight into the fundraising efforts and strategic moves being made by members of Congress as they prepare for the upcoming elections.