The Republican National Committee raised more than $104 million from January to September, a fundraising haul the party attributes to an influx of small-dollar donors excited about President Trump.
The $104 million raised during the first nine months of the year is a first for the party, as it has never raised that much money in that span of time during a nonpresidential year.
“Our record-breaking fundraising has been fueled by grassroots enthusiasm for President Trump and the Republican Party,” RNC Chairwoman Ronna Romney McDaniel said in a statement. “The overwhelming support has enabled the RNC to have a virtually uninterrupted presence in key states like Virginia since 2013.”
The RNC’s fundraising totals will be reflected in a finance report it will submit to the Federal Elections Commission by Friday.
In September, the RNC raised $10.4 million, according to the report, and the party raised a total of $104.4 million so far this year. The RNC also has $44.1 million in the bank.
According to the party, more than 98 percent of its donors are small-donor donors, contributing $200 or less. Additionally, $44 million of the $75 million it raised in direct contributions so far this year came in contributions of $200 or less.
“This month’s numbers show once again that Americans of all backgrounds approve of the direction our country is headed under Republican leadership,” Steve Wynn, RNC finance chairman, said in a statement. “We are grateful to our generous donors who allow us to continue to expand our Republican majorities.”
The RNC is gearing up for the 2018 midterm elections, where they will work to maintain control of the House and Senate, but has also been focused on next month’s governor’s election in Virginia.
There, the RNC has spent $3 million to help Republican Ed Gillespie, who is competing against Democratic Lt. Gov. Ralph Northam.
As part of their efforts heading into the midterm elections, the party announced last month it hired state directors in 17 states, which the RNC said is “part of the most expansive midterm field program in the party’s history.”
The RNC has outperformed its counterpart, the Democratic National Committee, in fundraising this year.
Last month, the RNC said it brought in $7.3 million in August and raised $93.3 million overall this year. The party said at the time it had $47.1 million cash on hand.
The DNC, meanwhile, raised $4.4 million in August and $46.3 million from January through the end of August.
During the first six months of 2017, the DNC raised $38 million compared to the RNC’s $75 million.
