During his first year as House Minority Leader, Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) surpassed fundraising expectations, paying 227% of his dues owed to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.
Jeffries’s substantial $2.5 million in contributions to the DCCC and $99.8 million raised, shown by December 2023 reports obtained by Punchbowl News, set him up to be a financial dynamo — already allocating $5.8 million to support Democratic incumbents in battleground districts and candidates vying to flip red seats.
Last year, Jeffries succeeded former Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), a party icon who built her reputation as a fundraising powerhouse while serving as the Democratic House leader in the last two decades. Still a top contributor, Pelosi paid $750,000 in dues, according to December records.
Jeffries tapped Rep. Suzan DelBene (D-WA) to lead the DCCC. Going into 2024, an important year for vulnerable House seats, DelBene contributed 100% of her dues, chipping in $630,000.
Other top Democrats reported favorable numbers, further strengthening the DCCC goals of flipping more seats in November — House Minority Whip Katherine Clark (D-MA) has contributed $1 million in dues, and Caucus Chairman Rep. Pete Aguilar (D-CA) chipped in $785,000.
Last year, the DCCC outraised the National Republican Congressional Committee nearly every month as House Republicans plunged into chaos, ousting former Rep. Kevin McCarthy from the speakership and struggling to pass bills. In the weeks after Rep. Mike Johnson (R-LA) was elected as the 56th speaker in November 2023, the NRCC reported $9 million, out-raising its Democratic counterpart by $1.5 million.
The NRCC noted that targeted Republican members outbid targeted Democrats last year.
“For three straight fundraising quarters in 2023, targeted House Republicans outraised targeted Democrats — unprecedented in recent cycles,” an NRCC memo reads. “Targeted Republicans now hold a more than $566K cash-on-hand advantage over targeted House Democrats.”
Jeffries ramped up transfers from his leadership PAC to the DCCC, while Clark increased checks to the House Democrats’ campaign arm.
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When asked about the enchanted payments last year, Pelosi told Politico, “That always happens in a new term. It’s really important to show their support for a new leader.”
The Washington Examiner contacted Jefferies’s office and the DCCC for comment.