#Democratic Senate campaigns rake in eye-popping donation sums

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Amy McGrath, the Democrat running against Sen. Mitch McConnell
Ryan C. Hermens/Lexington Herald-Leader via AP

In Senate races across the country, Democratic contenders are raising vast sums to unseat Republican incumbents in an effort to retake the majority in November, according to a report.

Amy McGrath, a former Marine Corps fighter pilot vying to unseat Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), has raised a stunning $17.4 million to launch her battle for the seat that McConnell has held since 1985, according to the LA Times.

Sara Gideon, Democratic speaker of the House in Maine and challenger to GOP stalwart Sen. Susan Collins, said last week she has raised $9 million this quarter for her campaign.

In South Carolina, Jamie Harrison, the Democrat who is challenging staunch President Trump supporter Sen. Lindsay Graham, has reportedly raised nearly $14 million in the last quarter, which is nearly double what he raised in the first quarter, the report says.

Steve Bullock, a former Montana governor and former Democratic presidential hopeful, jumped into his state’s US Senate race in March to face off against GOP freshman Sen. Steve Daines. Bullock reportedly raised $7.7 million in the second quarter, and the hope is that a Democratic financial and electoral push may help swing a state that Trump carried by 20 points in 2016.

The reason behind the surge of cash into the coffers of left-wing Senate challengers is that Democrats are seeing a chance to take back Congress’ upper chamber in 2020.

Republicans are facing an uphill battle to defend 23 seats, while the chamber’s Democrats face challenges for 12 seats.

Democrats need only flip four Republican seats to take back the Senate majority currently held by the GOP.

“The problem for Republicans is that Democrats are going to have the resources to get their message out and keep expanding the map in our direction by putting more Republican seats in play,” said Stewart Boss, national press secretary for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, speaking to the Los Angeles Times. “Not just Arizona and Colorado, but South Carolina and Kentucky, where those are tougher states.”

With the president’s re-election facing challenges as the country grapples with the turmoil of coronavirus spread, economic strife and national protests, Democrats see chances to snatch Republican seats.

Joe Biden’s campaign and Democratic committees raised $10 million more than Trump and Republicans in June.