House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy is earning his keep as a top Republican in Congress. The California lawmaker has raised or given $23 million to his fellow GOP candidates and campaign committees this election cycle.
McCarthy has raised $30 million total, only second to House Speaker Paul Ryan. McCarthy has raised $12.5 million specifically for incumbents and first-time candidates, transferred or raised an additional $7.5 million to the National Republican Congressional Committee, and donated $2.8 million directly to the candidates.
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The Republican leader has raised funds through various channels, including his congressional reelection committee, his leadership PAC, and joint fundraising committees.
The California Republican will have stumped on the campaign trail for more than 200 members and candidates across 29 states and 75 cities this election season, including 16 cities over the next two weeks.
McCarthy, along with Majority Whip Steve Scalise of Louisiana and Chief Deputy Whip Patrick McHenry of North Carolina, urged 80 congressional lawmakers in GOP-leaning districts to give money to colleagues in tight re-election races, during a conference call on Tuesday.
The National Republican Congressional Committee issued a memo earlier this week telling politicians “in this volatile environment, the current fundraising gap [with Democrats] is unsustainable, and will negatively affect Republican electoral prospects if not addressed.”
The NRCC and McCarthy have said the response is not due to Donald Trump’s trailing Hillary Clinton in national polls.
