Speaker Johnson Makes Major Election Announcement That Rattles Dems

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) raised a record $27.5 million in the third quarter of this year, providing Republicans with a boost as they strive to maintain their slim majority. According to Punchbowl News, the fundraising total included $19.4 million for political action committees and $8.1 million for candidates. Johnson’s office informed the outlet that this amount is the highest ever raised by a Republican speaker during the third quarter leading up to Election Day.

“In less than one year as Speaker, I’m thankful that we have been able to build a team and set new fundraising records that will ensure House Republicans can keep and grow our majority,” Johnson said, per The Hill. “Now, with less than one month until the most important election of our lifetimes, another strong quarter shows voters are motivated down the stretch and ready to elect Republicans up and down the ballot to fix our economy, secure the border, and restore peace through strength.”

With Republicans holding a slim eight-seat majority in the House, control of the chamber is expected to be contested again in November. A majority requires 218 seats, and current projections indicate Republicans with 212 likely or leaning seats, while Democrats have 208 likely or leaning seats, with an additional 15 races categorized as toss-ups.

Last week, the Congressional Leadership Fund, a PAC associated with Johnson and House Republican leadership, announced that it had raised $81.4 million in the third quarter, marking its highest quarterly fundraising total ever. As of September 30, CLF reported a cumulative total of $212.2 million raised for the 2024 election cycle and $153 million in cash on hand, the Daily Wire reported.

“With just four weeks from Election Day, we are invested deeply and continuing to strategically add more in the must-win races that will determine the Majority,” said CLF President Dan Conston. Despite the record fundraising total from the CLF, Democrats still maintain an advantage. The House Majority PAC, a group aligned with Democrats, reported raising $99 million in the third quarter, surpassing the CLF by $18 million.

“HMP could not be more proud to have bested our Republican counterparts in Q3, erasing the GOP Super PAC advantage as the candidate fundraising gap continues to grow for Democrats,” House Majority PAC President Mike Smith noted, according to the DW. “In the four weeks leading up to Election Day, we believe our record-breaking fundraising and strategic advantage in reserving crucial television and digital time at optimal rates will allow us to take back the House in November.”