New year-end Federal Election Commission filings show Democratic Senate candidates and hopefuls outraising Republicans in several marquee 2026 contests, including Georgia, North Carolina and Maine, even as costly primaries and outside spending loom across the map.
The latest campaign finance reports filed with the Federal Election Commission (FEC) for the final three months of 2025 show Democrats notching early fundraising leads in a number of high-profile 2026 Senate races, though Republicans still hold a 53-47 Senate majority heading into the midterms and several contests feature expensive primaries.
Georgia
In Georgia, Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff reported raising $9.9 million in the fourth quarter of 2025 and began 2026 with more than $25.5 million cash on hand, according to federal filings.
On the Republican side, none of Ossoff’s leading opponents reported raising more than $1.8 million in the quarter. Rep. Earl L. “Buddy” Carter reported raising $1.7 million, a total that included a $1 million loan, and he ended the year with about $4.2 million cash on hand. Former football coach Derek Dooley raised $1.1 million and ended the year with $2.1 million. Rep. Mike Collins raised $825,000 and began 2026 with $2.3 million in the bank.
North Carolina
In North Carolina, where Republican Sen. Thom Tillis is retiring, former Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper’s fourth-quarter filing showed his campaign raised more than $7 million and ended 2025 with about $12.4 million on hand.
Former Republican National Committee Chair Michael Whatley, a leading GOP contender, reported raising $3.8 million in the quarter and ended the year with about $3.7 million in cash on hand, filings show.
Michigan
In Michigan, Democrats are preparing for a primary to defend the seat being vacated by Democratic Sen. Gary Peters. Rep. Haley Stevens led the Democratic field in fourth-quarter fundraising, reporting $2.1 million raised and $3 million cash on hand. Abdul El-Sayed reported nearly $1.8 million raised, and state Sen. Mallory McMorrow reported $1.7 million; both reported just under $2 million available at year’s end.
On the Republican side, former Rep. Mike Rogers reported raising nearly $2 million during the quarter and ended 2025 with about $3.5 million cash on hand.
Maine
In Maine, Democratic candidate Graham Platner led the fourth-quarter money race, reporting $4.6 million raised. Gov. Janet Mills, Platner’s leading rival for the Democratic nomination, reported raising $2.7 million in the quarter after entering the race in October and began 2026 with $1.3 million cash on hand.
Both outraised Republican Sen. Susan Collins, who reported $2.2 million raised in the quarter. Collins, who has not formally announced whether she will seek a sixth term, reported $8 million cash on hand at the end of 2025.
New Hampshire
In New Hampshire, Democratic Rep. Chris Pappas reported raising $2.3 million in the fourth quarter and began 2026 with $3.2 million cash on hand.
On the Republican side, former Sen. John E. Sununu—who received an endorsement from President Donald Trump—reported raising $1.3 million in the quarter and began the year with $1.1 million on hand. Former Massachusetts Sen. Scott Brown, also running in the GOP primary, reported raising $374,000 in the quarter and ended 2025 with more than $900,000 available.
Ohio, Alaska, Texas, Iowa and Minnesota
Other filings and campaign announcements highlight how quickly money is accumulating across the map:
- In Ohio, former Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown reported raising $7.3 million in the fourth quarter for a comeback bid and ended 2025 with about $9.9 million cash on hand. Appointed Republican Sen. Jon Husted reported $1.5 million raised for the quarter and ended the year with nearly $6 million in the bank.
- In Alaska, Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan reported raising nearly $1.4 million in the quarter and ended 2025 with $5.8 million cash on hand. Former Rep. Mary Peltola entered the race in mid-January and said she raised $1.5 million in her first 24 hours.
- In Texas, Republican Sen. John Cornyn reported raising about $1.1 million through his main reelection account and nearly $6 million through joint fundraising, ending 2025 with more than $15.5 million in the bank. In the Democratic primary, state Rep. James Talarico reported raising $6.9 million in the quarter and ended 2025 with $7.1 million cash on hand; Rep. Jasmine Crockett, who entered the race in December, reported raising $6.5 million in the quarter, including a $4.5 million transfer from her House committee, and began 2026 with $5.6 million in her Senate account.
- In Iowa, Rep. Ashley Hinson led all candidates in quarterly fundraising with $1.7 million raised and began 2026 with $5.2 million cash on hand.
- In Minnesota, Rep. Angie Craig reported raising $2.1 million in the fourth quarter and ended 2025 with nearly $3.8 million on hand, while Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan reported raising $1 million and ended the year with about $811,000 available.
The early fundraising numbers underscore how campaign money—and the candidates’ ability to consolidate support in primaries—could shape a cycle expected to feature intense competition for Senate control, with outside groups also preparing to spend heavily in several states.
