Global Courant
A claim that House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, DN.Y., raised more money than House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., in the second quarter of 2023 has turned out to be untrue.
Punchbowl News reported last week that Jeffries’ second-quarter fundraiser totaled $29 million, a figure the Democrat team celebrated as a victory and a sign that the party was outpacing its Republican opponents down the aisle.
“Jeffries’ total is $7.3 million more than what speaker Kevin McCarthy raised in the second quarter. Jeffries is, of course, following in the footsteps of former speaker Nancy Pelosi – a legendary fundraiser. It’s clear that Jeffries can keep up with the money game in his first six months as Democratic leader,” the outlet initially reported.
Sharing the news, Justin Chermol, a press advisor for Jeffries, wrote in a tweet: “For the second quarter in a row, Leader @hakeemjeffries single-handedly outscored the NRCC, marking another MASSIVE fundraiser for House Democrats.”
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Punchbowl News last week erroneously reported that Jeffries’ second-quarter fundraising totaled $29 million, a figure the Democrats’ team celebrated as a victory and a sure sign that the party was outpacing its Republican opponents. (Win McNamee, Kevin Dietsch via Getty Images)
However, in a memo Tuesday to its readers, Punchbowl News issued a correction on Jeffries’ fundraising total.
“Last week we reported that House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries raised $29 million in the second quarter of 2023, which Jeffries’ team said was more than McCarthy’s loot,” the outlet said in an update. To be clear, that’s not the full story.
“Team Jeffries counts nearly every dollar raised by the DCCC in its total. McCarthy doesn’t. So, using Jeffries’ math, McCarthy raised almost $46 million. Basically, Jeffries has not raised more than McCarthy,” the outlet added. “In the future, we will work harder to get leaders to show their math when they give us fundraising numbers so we can compare apples to apples for you.”
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House Minority Leader Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, DN.Y., and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., attend a stamp unveiling ceremony honoring the late Rep. John R. Lewis at Statuary Hall at the Capitol on June 21, 2023. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)
Earlier this month, it was revealed that McCarthy had raised $21.7 million in the second quarter through the McCarthy Victory Fund, its joint fundraising committee. That brought the total amount he has raised for Republicans this cycle to $62.5 million.
During a appearance on “Morning with Mary,” McCarthy touted the House GOP’s massive fundraising record and praised the party’s performance in the last quarter as the party aims to win “more Democratic seats” ahead of the 2024 election.
“I’ll tell you, it seems like a lot of money, but the Democrats always have a lot more,” McCarthy told FOX Business host Maria Bartiromo. “The unions pay, and we have to win in difficult seats.”
While the Democrats’ fundraising capabilities are a stable force, McCarthy explained that the Republican agenda is what drives the massive fundraising efforts.
House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., receives the gavel from House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, DN.Y., in the House Chamber at the U.S. Capitol on January 7, 2023 in Washington, D.C. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
“I have independents and Democrats coming forward and want to help grow this majority because they like that we put America first, that we focus on the individuals,” the speaker said.
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“We’ve expanded this party. It’s because good members with good policies who listen to the American public and aren’t afraid to lead make a difference,” he repeated.
McCarthy has not publicly stated who he supports for the upcoming presidential election, arguing that his focus has been on fundraising and Congress.
Alicia Warren of Fox Business contributed to this report.
