This month we finally got our hands on long-awaited first-quarter fundraising data, and things are looking pretty good for our 2024 Senate women—although when you look at men and women in similarly competitive races, a familiar gap remains.
On the House side, we’ve got a great roster of women running in safe Democratic open seats. Candidates for competitive open Democratic and Republican-held seats are a bit thinner, but that should change rapidly now that the DCCC has released its 2024 target list.
In the states, we recap what happened in Wisconsin on April 4, and what that means for women candidates and abortion rights. And on the national front, it’s official: Biden-Harris 2024!
US Senate
The race for the one competitive open seat Democrats are defending, in Michigan, appears to be going well for frontrunner Rep. Elissa Slotkin. She has raised a little over $3 million according to recently released first-quarter fundraising reports, and so far has drawn no serious primary or general election challenger.
That $3 million is still slightly less than her closest male counterpart, Democratic Arizona Senate challenger Rep. Ruben Gallego, who raised $3.7 million. Unfortunately, this is a gap we’re already seeing between male and female candidates. While these races are not necessarily apples-to-apples comparisons, incumbent Montana Sen. Jon Tester has raised nearly twice as much as Sens. Jacky Rosen and Tammy Baldwin, even though Cook Political Report rates all three races as Lean-D. (Sen. Bob Casey is a bit of an outlier here, and Sen. Joe Manchin has not yet declared.)
Check out full campaign fundraising numbers in the chart below. First-quarter raise totals for Rep. Katie Porter include funds transferred from her House campaign account. Rep. Adam Schiff has also made substantial transfers from his House campaign account.
All fundraising data is from fec.gov. Updated 4/23/2023.
All fundraising data is from fec.gov. Updated 4/23/2023.
Polling & Analysis
2024 Senate Race Ratings [Cook Political Report]
Why Dianne Feinstein Might Actually Have To Resign [FiveThirtyEight]
What Do Fundraising Numbers Say About The 2024 Campaign? [FiveThirtyEight]
Top Races
Senate Democrats fill campaign coffers ahead of tough 2024 races
Nevada Sen. Jacky Rosen launches re-election campaign
Tammy Baldwin launches re-election bid, setting up 2024 Senate battle in Wisconsin
Wisconsin court race sets stage for 2024 in key swing state
California Senate contenders haul in millions in first quarter
Other News
Michigan’s Dingell says she won’t run for Senate
Is Cardin announcement imminent? Political players search for clues
Tina Smith, a ‘velvet hammer’ in the U.S. Senate
Elizabeth Warren Is Building An ‘Anti-Crypto Army’
Is It Sexist to Want Dianne Feinstein to Retire?
US House
The DCCC recently released its list of the most flippable GOP seats, and the path to the majority clearly runs through New York and California. Democrats are targeting seven seats in the latter and five seats in the former, and only need to flip five seats to take back power.
There are not many official challengers yet for these targeted seats, though one early declaration indicates a new Democratic political dynasty might be forming: Liz Gereghty, the sister of Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, will take on Rep. Mike Lawler in NY-17.
The races for open Democratic seats are seeing much more interest, with crowded fields forming in AZ-3 (currently held by Rep. Ruben Gallego), CA-47 (currently held by Rep. Katie Porter) and RI-1 (currently held by Rep. David Cicilline).
The good news: Women are leading contenders in Arizona and Rhode Island, and Lateefah Simon appears to be clearing the field in CA-13 (currently held by Rep. Barbara Lee). The bad news: A man is the frontrunner in CA-47, and there is currently no declared female candidate in MI-7 (currently held by Rep. Elissa Slotkin).
All data is from fec.gov. Updated 4/23/2023.
Polling & Analysis
2024 House Race Ratings [Cook Political Report]
2024 House Race Analysis: Northern California [Cook Political Report]
2024 House Race Analysis: Southern California [Cook Political Report]
2024 House ratings [Sabato’s Crystal Ball] – Updated April 5, 2023
Top Races
Democrats target 31 GOP-held seats in aggressive campaign for House majority
New York, California at heart of GOP plan to keep House
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s Sister Throws Hat in Local Ring (NY-17)
Slotkin’s Senate run may complicate Dems bid to retake House
Democrats begin campaigning in Arizona’s 3rd Congressional District
Hispanic Caucus PAC jumping into race to replace Cicilline in Rhode Island
Lateefah Simon on Her Work with Kamala Harris and Run for Congress
Other News
Rep. Jennifer Wexton says she’s been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease
Vermont *finally* sent a woman to Congress
From agitator to insider: The evolution of AOC
Reps. Cori Bush and Ayanna Pressley Launch Congressional ERA Caucus
State & Local
The big, BIG news in state politics this month is Judge Janet Protasiewicz’s 11-point victory in the special state Supreme Court election, another result demonstrating that abortion rights continue to help Democrats to victory. Check out our analysis of April 4 state and local elections if you haven’t already.
Looking ahead, primary contests for Virginia’s state legislative elections are heating up, and women are running in some of the most competitive contests. Our crowdfunding partner WomenCount has released its first Virginia slate of eight women to support in the June 20 primary. Democrats only need to gain two House seats to win back control of the chamber and further protect abortion rights. Two women running can help, if they make it past the primary:
✴️ Amy Laufer, District 55 (New seat, open)
✴️ Kimberly Pope Adams, District 82 (Republican-held)
Heading back to the Midwest, Republicans in Ohio are up to dirty tricks, attempting to change the schedule of elections to disadvantage activists who are hoping to get a pro-abortion rights amendment on this year’s general election ballot.
Polling & Analysis
Democrats flip the Wisconsin Supreme Court [Sabato’s Crystal Ball]
Red State Voters Support Anti-Trans Laws. Their Lawmakers Are Delivering [FiveThirtyEight]
Denver mayoral runoff poll shows Mike Johnston and Kelly Brough in statistical tie [Cygnal]
Top Races
Voter turnout in Wisconsin Supreme Court race breaks record
Five ads that defined Tuesday’s elections in Wisconsin and Chicago
The Wisconsin Supreme Court race — by the numbers
U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee is running for Houston mayor
Ohio GOP gets behind August election to stiffen rules on looming abortion referendum
News
Whitmer repeals Michigan’s 1931 abortion ban
Access to Mifepristone Is in Danger. Gov. Maura Healey Stockpiled a Year’s Supply.
Democrats have a diverse bench waiting in the wings. They just need to pitch it to donors.
How one group aims to boost Florida Hispanic women’s voting power
Florida Democrats can’t stop the GOP right now. But Nikki Fried says they’re willing to fight.
Stacey Abrams to join Howard University in role focused on race, politics
Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis announces early bid in 2026 California governor’s race
Women are almost half of lieutenant governors. Could it pave the way to higher office?
National & Women
President Joe Biden announced his re-election campaign this week, and a woman is leading the charge: Senior advisor Julie Chavez Rodriguez will be the first Latina to manage the campaign of a presidential nominee.
With her leadership, and Vice President Kamala Harris filling out the ticket, 2024 is shaping up to be another critical presidential election for women’s representation. Perhaps—if everything goes well (knock on wood)—the Biden Administration won’t miss another chance to name the first female White House Chief of Staff.
Polling & Analysis
Abortion, Trump and Swing Voters [Cook Political Report]
She Should Run Releases First-Ever ‘Group Chat Issues’ Report
Americans say medication abortion should be legal in their state [Pew Research]
Top Stories
Why Kamala Harris Matters So Much in 2024
Who is Julie Chávez Rodriguez, Biden’s reelection campaign manager?
Biden’s reelection could hinge on how much women voters trust him on the economy
As future of abortion pill is weighed, Democrats in Congress see little they can do
Democrats want to restore Roe. They’re divided on whether to go even further.
New Biden rule seeks to protect women crossing state lines for abortions
Other News
Vice President Kamala Harris shares playlist to take you around Africa
In Zambia, Vice President Harris visits farm with climate change innovation in mind
The Link Between Domestic Violence and Climate Change
Americans want change on guns. It could shape the 2024 election.