House Speaker Paul Ryan has raised $23.5 million since he took the leadership post on Oct. 30, GOP aides said Wednesday.
The fundraising haul includes $17.2 million raised in the first quarter of 2016, of which a “record” $11 million was given to the National Republican Congressional Committee, the House GOP’s fundraising arm.
Ryan managed to to raise the funds in spite of his pledge to avoid the frequent fundraising trips made most weekends by his predecessor, former House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio.
“Six months ago, Paul Ryan was not speaker of the House and Team Ryan, his political operation, didn’t even exist,” said Kevin Seifert, executive director of Ryan’s fundraising operation. “Since then, Speaker Ryan has gone all in, determined to defend and strengthen our House Republican majority so we can turn this country around.”
The money is used to support House GOP candidates in key races across the country. House Republicans are expected to maintain the majority in November, but could lose seats in several closely contested races.
