Democrats see voter enthusiasm in fundraising haul from small-dollar donors before the midterms

The Democratic National Committee says it raised $10.25 million from small-dollar donors in September, weeks before the Nov. 3 midterm elections. The party shared the figure with The Associated Press before a federal reporting deadline later this month. The DNC says the total was higher than its small-donor haul in each of the previous three midterm cycles.

The September figure was $3.5 million above the comparable month in 2018, $1.6 million above 2022, and $3.4 million above 2014. Those amounts are increases over each prior September comparison, not the DNC’s total fundraising in those cycles. The $10.25 million cited here counts small-dollar donations only. Full figures that include larger donors were still pending.

Democratic officials say the fundraising could reflect voter enthusiasm with control of Congress at stake. That is their interpretation of donations, rather than a measure of how people will vote. More complete fundraising figures, including larger donors, were not yet available.

DNC Chair Ken Martin called the numbers a sign that Democrats were on a winning path. That is the party’s own assessment as campaigns head into the final weeks. The report does not provide comparable September figures for Republicans.

Democratic strategist Joe Rospars said small-dollar donors can reflect excitement and willingness to volunteer for candidates. The DNC also said about one in five of its donors were giving for the first time. Those figures suggest new participation in the party’s fundraising, though they do not show how those donors will vote.

The party has struggled to raise money during President Donald Trump’s second term and entered the campaign season carrying debt, according to the report. It says it has reduced the number of fundraising emails to limit donor fatigue. Whether the September increase signals broader voter momentum will become clearer in later fundraising reports and election results.