Building on late-2025 trends, Democratic candidates continued to outraise Republicans in several competitive 2026 Senate races during Q1 2026, per new campaign finance reports. However, national Republican committees and allied groups hold roughly double the cash on hand of Democrats, underscoring key dynamics in the battle for Congress.
In states including Maine, North Carolina, Ohio, Alaska, Florida, Iowa, and Texas, Democrats reported higher Q1 totals than Republicans. Texas Democratic nominee James Talarico led with over $27 million raised, followed by Georgia Sen. Jon Ossoff ($14 million) and former North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper (nearly $9 million). Independent candidates aligned with Democrats also topped Republican incumbents in Montana and Nebraska.
Democrats must defend two seats in 2024 Trump-won states while flipping four to regain Senate control.
Nationally, Republican groups like the RNC, NRCC, NRSC, and super PACs have about double the cash reserves of Democratic counterparts—totaling around $850 million including President Trump's MAGA Inc. super PAC ($350 million) for House and Senate races.
House notes include older Democratic incumbents facing well-funded primary challengers (e.g., Reps. Sherman, Thompson, Lynch) and Rep. Valerie Foushee defeating Nida Allam despite Allam's fundraising edge, aided by $4.2 million in outside spending. Separately, Rep. Sheila Cheriflus-McCormick resigned April 21 amid ethics probes, amid 70+ lawmakers announcing retirements.
