In N.C.'s top races, Democrats are outraising Republicans
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Illustration: Maura Losch/Axios
With just over 100 days until the election, candidates in North Carolina's highest-profile races have shattered fundraising records.
Why it matters: Statewide races, along with some legislative and congressional races in this swing state, are tight. They're often won or lost by just a few points, and the money candidates raise — and in turn spend on campaigning — can make a big difference.
- This year's election will also determine if the state GOP, which already holds a majority on the state Supreme Court, can keep its supermajority in the state legislature and flip the attorney general and governor's offices.
State of play: Many of the Democrats in top state races have the cash advantage, as of the latest data, which was released before President Biden ended his campaign Sunday and sent Democratic fundraising numbers soaring.
- All but two Democrats running statewide, along with the Democrat running in the state's most competitive congressional district, are bringing in more than their Republican opponents, the latest campaign finance data shows.
Yes, but: In elections past, North Carolina Democrats have often brought in more money than their Republican counterparts, and they haven't always won.
Flashback: Take the 2022 race for U.S. Senate, for example.
- By the end of September that year, Democratic candidate and former state Supreme Court Justice Cheri Beasley had raised $29.4 million.
- Her opponent, now-Congressman Ted Budd, had raised far less, at $11.1 million, according to the Associated Press.
- Still, Beasley ultimately lost to Budd by 3.2%.
By the numbers: In this year's governor's race, Democratic Attorney General Josh Stein ($32.9 million) has raised more than double Republican Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson ($15.8 million), and has $9.4 million more in cash-on-hand as of the end of June.
- Stein raised $13.8 million to Robinson's $5.07 million between February and June.
In the attorney general's race between Democratic Congressman Jeff Jackson and Republican Congressman Dan Bishop, Jackson also raised more than double in this election cycle ($7.2 million compared to $3 million) and has more than double the amount of cash on hand ($5.7 million compared to $2.7 million).
- In the latest quarter, Jackson brought in $4.2 million to Bishop's $1.4 million.
Zoom in: The trend of Democrats bringing in at least double their Republican opponents holds in all but two races: state auditor and state treasurer, per WUNC analysis.
- Republican state treasurer candidate Brad Briner has raised $1.4 million this election cycle, compared to his Democratic opponent state Rep. Wesley Harris' nearly $820,000.
- Republican Dave Boliek, the former UNC Board of Trustees chairman running for state auditor, has raised over $1 million to Democratic incumbent Jessica Holmes' $177,490.
Meanwhile, Congressman Don Davis, who is running for a second term in the state's only competitive congressional district against Republican Laurie Buckhout, has raised $3.2 million so far this election cycle.
- Buckhout has brought in just under $2.6 million. Her campaign also noted that in the latest period, between April and June, Buckhout brought in more than $704,000, well over its goal of $500,000. (Davis raised $1.02 million in the latest quarter.)
- Buckhout campaign advisor Jonathan Felts, who also worked on Budd's campaign in 2022, noted in a release last week that "Democrats have outraised Republican candidates in North Carolina in pretty much every competitive political race dating back to 2014."
- "I reckon a decade ago I'd have lost sleep over it, but this situation is normal now," Felts said.