Despite the turmoil that Republicans have faced over the past several months, some observers are speculating that the Democrats may still be at a disadvantage in the 2018 midterm elections due to significant gaps in fundraising.
According to The Hill, the Democratic National Committee, or DNC, raised $38.2 million during the first six months of 2017 which is slightly more than half the amount the $75.4 million their Republican counterparts brought in.
The report adds, “as of June 30, the RNC has almost $45 million in the bank, while the DNC has just under $7.5 million, along with $3 million in debt.”
There appear to be mounting frustrations as a result, with one Democratic donor telling the publication, “We really should be kicking their a***s. It shouldn’t even be close, considering all hell is breaking loose on their side.”
The lag has, in part, been attributed to the DNC’s effort to rebuild after selecting new leaders in February.
The Star-Tribune recently reported that one official, William Hailer, “found the DNC in shambles when he became a senior adviser to the party early this year. Staff levels were at an all-time low, with just three people involved in fundraising. Now the DNC has nearly 30 fundraisers, and [DNC Deputy Chairman, Representative Keith] Ellison and Hailer expect that will boost campaign contributions." [MORE]