A top GOP group backed by House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., raised $15 million during the first three months of 2018 as Republicans brace for a tough fight to retain their House majority in the fall.
The Congressional Leadership Fund took in $15 million during the first quarter and has $25 million in cash on hand, which is far superior to their three-month haul in 2016 when they raised $1.3 million and had $1.9 million in the bank.
“Knowing this will be a challenging midterm environment, aggressive and early fundraising has put CLF in a strong position to defend the Republican majority,” said Corry Bliss, CLF’s executive director, in a statement.
“Donors are investing heavily in CLF’s field program, which will continue to expand nationwide,” Bliss said. “With 31 field offices and 8 million voter contacts over the past year, CLF is committed to playing a major role ensuring Republicans maintain control of the House.”
The numbers show the group is still going strong after a successful 2017, during which CLF raised $26 million. That figure was 52 times the total raised in 2015, the previous political off-year.
The group has created an operation rivaling that of a party committee ahead of the November midterms, complete with an extensive field organization that recently expanded to 31 offices and has made 8 million voter contacts.
CLF has been heavily invested in the 2018 House fight, having spent millions in special elections, including $3 million in last month’s race in Pennsylvania’s 18th Congressional District where Rep.-elect Conor Lamb, D-Penn., defeated Republican Rick Saccone.
Republicans currently hold a 23-seat advantage in the House only seven months out from the midterm elections and the GOP tax law could be key to retaining the chamber in November. The American Action Network, the sister organization of CLF, has spent over $30 million since August in support of the tax law, which will be a top messaging point for the GOP.
