Campaign Finance and Party Strategy

DNC Chair Ken Martin said Democrats’ string of special- and off‑year‑election wins — including a flip of a deep‑red Texas state Senate seat — and rising small‑donor support (the DNC reported over $7 million in grassroots fundraising last month) show that ballot‑box success is offsetting the large cash advantage held by Donald Trump and Republican committees and are driving what he called “gangbusters” 2026 fundraising. House Speaker Mike Johnson pushed back, saying special‑election turnout is “very strange” and cautioned they aren’t a reliable barometer for midterm races.