One of the surest signs that an incumbent is in for a tough reelection: getting outraised by a challenger.
That happened more than three dozen times last quarter. The trend plagued Republicans in the battleground seats more than Democrats and signals the danger facing the razor-thin House GOP majority.
At least 20 GOP incumbents raised less than a Democratic challenger last quarter, per a Punchbowl News analysis of FEC filings. Many of them are in purple districts.
Meanwhile, only about a half dozen Democratic incumbents were outraised by a Republican. Three of those Republicans were significantly self-funded.
Republican incumbents outraised by a Democrat: GOP Reps. Dale Strong (Ala.), Paul Gosar (Ariz.), Darrell Issa (Calif.), Lauren Boebert (Colo.), Jeff Crank (Colo.), John Rutherford (Fla.), Cory Mills (Fla.), Mariannette Miller-Meeks (Iowa), Trent Kelly (Miss.), Michael Lawler (N.Y.), Tom Kean Jr. (N.J.), Scott Perry (Pa.), Andy Ogles (Tenn.), Jen Kiggans (Va.), John McGuire (Va.), Ben Cline (Va.), Derrick Van Orden (Wis.), Chuck Edwards (N.C.), Dan Crenshaw (Texas) and Brian Babin (Texas).
Democratic incumbents outraised by a Republican: Democratic Reps. Val Hoyle (Ore.), Dina Titus (Nev.), Don Davis (N.C.), Frank Mrvan (Ind.) and Debbie Wasserman Schultz (Fla.).
Far more incumbent Democrats were outraised by primary opponents, a sign that they’re in for a bruising clash with a younger generation of hopefuls looking to nudge them out of office.
Democrats outraised by a primary challenger: Democratic Reps. Mike Thompson (Calif.), John Larson (Conn.), Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (Fla.), David Scott (Ga.), Stephen Lynch (Mass.), April McClain Delaney (Md.), Wesley Bell (Mo.), Yvette Clarke (N.Y.), Valerie Foushee (N.C.), Steve Cohen (Tenn.) and Shri Thanedar (Mich.).
The disparity is particularly stark in Tennessee, where Cohen raised just $84,000. His challenger, state Rep. Justin Pearson, raised $732,000.
Only a handful of Republican incumbents trailed a primary opponent last quarter.
Republicans outraised by a primary challenger: GOP Reps. Andrew Clyde (Ga.), Thomas Massie (Ky.), Tony Gonzales (Texas) and Ogles.
