First in Punchbowl News: Speaker Mike Johnson raked in $27.5 million during the third quarter of this year — what his team says is a new record for a Republican speaker during that period of time in a presidential year.
Johnson’s double-digit haul includes more than $19.4 million for his fundraising committees and $8.1 million for individual members and candidates. The speaker has now transferred more than $26 million to the NRCC since securing the gavel nearly one year ago.
Last week, the Congressional Leadership Fund — the House GOP leadership-aligned super PAC — reported raising $81 million during July, August and September, bringing the combined efforts of Johnson and CLF to more than $100 million in the third quarter.
This is much-needed good news for Republicans on the fundraising front in the final stretch before the election. House Republicans have struggled to close the cash gap with Democrats. Johnson, who has started to find his footing on the campaign trail, has traveled to more than 210 cities in 40 states and will barnstorm through 24 states in October.