Senate Dems campaign group raised $5.8 million in December

The Democrats’ Senate campaign arm raked in $5.8 million in December, outraising the Senate GOP campaign committee as both groups prepare for crucial elections in 2018. 

At the same time, the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) finished paying off the last of its election debt and is entering the New Year with $19 million in its bank account. 

Politico first reported the DSCC’s December fundraising haul. 

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The committee’s fundraising haul for the month and its cash on hand puts it ahead of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, which reported raising $3.4 million in December and ending the year with $15.3 million on hand.

Both groups are gearing up for a series of potentially pivotal campaign fights in 2018. While Democrats are hoping to make gains by capitalizing on President Trump’s low approval ratings, the party is fending off Senate challenges in more states than Republicans are. 

Democrats are facing challenges in 10 states that Trump won in the 2016 presidential election. 

Among the most vulnerable Democratic senators, according to the Cook Political Report, are Sens. Joe Donnelly (Ind.), Claire McCaskill (Mo.), Joe Manchin (W.Va.) and Tina Smith (Minn.), who took office last month after Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.) resigned amid sexual misconduct allegations.

But GOP-held seats in Tennessee, Nevada and Arizona are all considered vulnerable in 2018, according to Cook.