GOP breaks fundraising records with $100 million

WASHINGTON — The Republican National Committee raised more than $100 million in the first nine months of 2017, marking the first time it has raised that much, that fast, in a non-presidential election year.

The record-breaking fundraising can be largely attributed to a flurry of smalldollar donors responding to fundraising appeals by the first Republican president in eight years, Donald Trump, according to a new report to be released later this week and obtained by McClatchy.

The numbers give Republicans a large cash advantage over Democrats as they look to retain control of both chambers of Congress in the midterm elections next year.

Last month, the RNC hired state directors in 17 states across the nation, including Florida, Missouri and North Carolina, as part of what the party says will be the most expansive midterm field program in its history.

“This month’s numbers show once again that Americans of all backgrounds approve of the direction our country is headed under Republican leadership,” RNC Finance Chairman Steve Wynn said in a statement. “We are grateful to our generous donors who allow us to continue to expand our Republican majorities.”

The RNC raised $10.4 million in September, according to a report it will file with the Federal Elections Commission by Friday’s deadline. It has raised $104.4 million this year and has $44.1 million in the bank.

The Democratic National Committee, which kicks off its fall meeting Thursday in Las Vegas, has not yet released its fundraising for September.

But through August, Republicans had raised almost twice as much as the Democrats and had nearly seven times as much money in the bank.