House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., raised over $11 million in the first three months of 2018, bringing his total haul during the 2018 cycle to $54 million as Republicans look to hold onto the House in the November midterm elections.
Ryan has transferred $40 million to the National Republican Congressional Committee during the cycle and, in the process, reached his goal for the amount he aimed to contribute to the political committee. The number was initially set for $25 million at the beginning of 2017, but revised up after last year’s special elections.
“Thanks to the Speaker’s tireless efforts, our members and candidates across the country will have the resources they need this fall to tout how our agenda is allowing the economy to grow and families to keep more of what they earn,” said Kevin Seifert, the executive director of Ryan’s political operation, in a statement.
“While Democrats still have no coherent 2018 message, Republicans are united, have a clear platform to run on, and because of Speaker Ryan, they will be able to organize strong campaigns,” Seifert added.
The total raised during the first three months is more than double the amount raised by the speaker during the final three months of 2017 — $4.8 million — and came soon after the Republican tax law was signed into law in December.
Ryan and Republicans believe the tax law is key for the party to hold the House, and it has also led to an influx of dollars to various GOP efforts. The Congressional Leadership Fund, a Ryan-backed super PAC dedicated to holding the House majority, raised $15 million in the first quarter and has $25 million in cash on hand.
Republicans hold a 23-seat majority in the chamber after Democratic Rep.-elect Conor Lamb’s victory last month in Pennsylvania.
