Kansas House Democrats are running just a step ahead of Republicans with cash in the bank, marking yet another sign of the energy the Democrats are harnessing as attention turns toward the general election.
The Democratic House committee raised more money than the House Republican committee in the first part of the year, slightly surpassing their GOP rivals’ reserves going into the heart of the general election campaign.
Democrats raised about $77,000 through July 23, leaving them with about $212,000 on hand. Republicans, meanwhile, raised $31,000. They now have about $211,000 as the focus turns to the general election.
House Minority Leader Tom Sawyer says the Democrats haven’t seen those kinds of numbers in cash on hand since the 1990s.
Traditionally at this time in a general election season, the Republican House committee has not only raised more money, but also has more cash stashed away.
This year, Democrats have raised more and have slightly more money held in reserve.
In 2018, for instance, the Republican House Campaign Committee raised about $25,500 during the first seven months of the year but went into the general election with more than $184,000 in the bank.
Democrats raised about $2,800 in the first seven months of 2018 and trailed the Republicans by around $130,000 going into the general election.
That trend is similar to other years in the last decade, where House Republican fundraising did not pick up until after the primary but the GOP nevertheless held a sizable advantage in cash on hand with the general election three months out.
Four years ago, the House Republican Campaign Committee raised $47,500 during the first half of 2016 and went into the general election with $147,000 on hand. The Democrats that year reported to be holding almost $90,000.
It wasn’t any different in 2014, when the Republican campaign committee raised about $39,000 for the first seven months of the year and had about $173,000 on hand. The Democratic House committee had about $40,300 on hand that year.
In 2012, House Democrats raised about $8,000 more than Republicans during the first seven months of the year but still lagged behind the GOP in cash on hand.
The House GOP committee raised about $267,000 in 2012 overall as it hauled in about $133,000 more than the House Democrats.
In 2010, when Republicans made big gains in the House, the GOP House committee only raised about $10,800 for the first seven months of the year compared to $26,000 for the Democrats.
However, the Republican House committee had about $118,000 on hand at the end of July 2010 compared to about $77,000 for Democrats.
Heather Scanlon, chief of staff for the House Minority leader, credited recent fundraising efforts to the national attention Kansas Democrats are receiving.
She pointed out that House Democrats have had fundraising events with national party luminaries such as former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder and former presidential candidate Mayor Pete Buttigieg.
“With the prospect of breaking the Republican supermajority so close at hand and redistricting around the corner, Kansas Democrats and national Democrats realize the stakes,” Scanlon said.
Republicans are unfazed, believing they will be OK as the general election approaches.
They have already lined up $200,000 in commitments from a fundraiser that was held at the Topeka Zoo on Wednesday night.
They say it’s easier for Democrats to raise money when they have a governor in office.
Republican House fundraising, they said, doesn’t generally kick into high gear until after the GOP primaries have ended.
The Republican House Committee also just came off a record setting year in 2019 when it hauled in $209,000, the most for an off-election year.
“Over the past few months, the GOP House caucus has been focused on getting people back to work and rebuilding our economy. That is the priority Kansans expect and need right now,” said Republican consultant Jared Suhn, who works for the Republican House Campaign Committee.
Democrats believe their work with the House campaign committee is spilling over into fundraising for local races, as well.
“So many of our candidates’ fundraising numbers have just been incredible,” Scanlon said.
On a local level, House Democrats believe they have a chance to claim several seats held by Republicans, including District 14 now held by Rep. Charlotte Esau, District 15 now represented by Rep. John Toplikar and District 17, which is coming open after Republican incumbent Rep. Tom Cox ran unsuccessfully for the state Senate.
Democratic challenger Angela Schweller has about a $13,000 lead in cash on hand over Esau, and Democrat Jo Ella Hoye in District 17 had about $30,000 in the bank compared to Republican Kristine Sapp with nearly $2,100.
Democrat Mari-Lynn Poskin reported about $33,000 on hand, while her GOP rival in House District 20, Jane Dirks, had about $6,900 on hand as she battled to win a primary race.
And while Cole Fine has less money on hand than Toplikar, he did raise about $7,000 more than the Republican incumbent this year.
Elsewhere in Johnson County, Democrat Michael Shimeall has raised almost $17,000 to about $3,500 raised by state Rep. Adam Thomas in Olathe in House District 26.
Shimeall had about $13,000 on hand, compared to almost $4,000 for the Republican incumbent.
Democrats say their candidates are compelled to do better at fundraising because of the financial firepower that groups such as the Kansas Chamber of Commerce, Americans for Prosperity and Kansans for Life will bring to the campaigns.
“Knowing that we don’t have those special interest groups that Republicans rely so heavily on — the Kansas Chamber, AFP, KFL — this shows me our candidates realize how much harder Democrats have to work in Kansas and are truly proving to be beyond up to the task,” Scanlon said.
Republicans aren’t conceding any ground, saying Democrats were similarly energized in 2018 and they gained no seats in the House.
Republican strategists said that some of their candidates had tough primaries, which draws down money.
And while there are Democratic candidates who are well financed in suburban Johnson County, that doesn’t guarantee electoral success elsewhere, they said.
Republicans also have candidates who are financially ready for a brawl.
Republican Rashard Young raised about $31,000 in the race to replace outgoing state Rep. Cindy Holscher in House District 16. He had more than $24,000 on hand in July.
Democrat Linda Featherston has raised more than $12,000 this year and had nearly $18,600 on hand in July.
Over in House District 41 in Leavenworth, Republican Army veteran Patrick Proctor has raised almost $60,000 this year and last, including $30,000 he’s loaned his campaign. He had $23,800 on hand as of July 23.
Democrat Mike Griswold, the mayor of Leavenworth, just emerged from a three-person primary and reported having about $3,900 on hand as his race wound down. He lent his campaign $1,870. He reported raising about $8,200 this year.
“Republicans will have the resources they need to win,” Suhn said.
“Ultimately,” he said, “there will never be enough money for Democrats to convince mainstream voters their candidates aren’t just carbon copies of Aaron Coleman, AOC and Elizabeth Warren.”
