GOP leaders push House members to raise more cash to combat Harris enthusiasm

Rep. Richard Hudson (R-N.C.), the chair of the House GOP campaign arm, encouraged members to ramp up fundraising efforts and investment Thursday during a private conference call, as Vice President Harris’s nascent White House bid intensifies Democratic enthusiasm.

The plea from Hudson, the head of the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC), came after the House Democratic campaign arm outraised its GOP counterpart in quarter two of this year, $44 million to $37 million. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) had its best online fundraising day of the cycle — nearly $1 million — in the 24 hours after Harris replaced President Biden at the top of the ticket.

Hudson referenced the GOP’s lagging fundraising during the call, sources told The Hill, and asked members to provide more financial support because of the Democrats’ monetary advantage.

Rep. Richard Hudson (R-N.C.) addresses reporters following the House Republican Leadership Election for the 118th session of Congress on Tuesday, November 15, 2022.

“I need you to want it,” Hudson said at one point during the conversation while discussing the GOP’s lower fundraising numbers and the group’s hope of growing its majority, according to a source on the call.

A second source said the tone of the call was not sounding the alarm, but outlining a “clear-eyed pathway to picking up seats in this new reality” as control of the chamber remains up for grabs.

Hudson gave “a broad political update about [the] state of the race for the majority” with Harris as the Democratic nominee, the source said.

“We have a great shot to pick up seats, but laying out the path to how,” the source added.

House GOP leaders did, meanwhile, pledge more financial support for the NRCC. Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) — who called in from Colorado, a stop on his 20-state swing in the month of August — announced he was transferring $4 million to the group, which brings his total contributions to more than $20 million since becoming Speaker, according to a source familiar with the matter.

House GOP Chair Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) announced $2 million between her New York battleground fund effort, the NRCC and candidates, putting her at $11 million spent this cycle on expanding the conference’s majority, according to a second source familiar.

The call for cash comes as Republicans continue to grapple with the sustained momentum among Democrats, which began when Biden dropped out of the race and threw his support behind Harris, surged after she selected Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D) as her running mate, and is expected to continue as the party convenes in Chicago next week for its convention.