The Republican National Committee (RNC) announced some stunning fundraising numbers in the first quarter of 2021. The RNC announced that they raised roughly $17.8 million in March alone – a huge sum in an ‘off-year’ from the election cycle, especially considering that the Republican president lost just a few months ago.
The total quarterly cash haul was equally good. First quarter totals came to nearly $44.4 million.
Many will undoubtedly chalk up the fundraising haul to the breakneck speed the new Democratic Congress and President are re-shaping policy away from the Trump years.
However, Democrats didn’t fare so bad themselves – the DNC reportedly brought in over $18 million in January and February.
For Republicans, it’s an indication of the influence that former President Donald Trump still holds over the party.
The most strident House Republicans – both for and against Trump – brought in big individual fundraising numbers.
The Republican National Committee announced that it raised nearly $17.8 million in donations in March https://t.co/mm60p0BP3a pic.twitter.com/Aq9OB0E3z1
— The Hill (@thehill) April 20, 2021
Some of President Trump’s most staunch defenders had the best fundraising cycles.
Reps. Jim Jordan (R-OH) at $2.1 million, Elise Stefanik (R-NY) at $1.1million, Madison Cawthorn (R-NC) at $1 million, and embattled Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz brought in $1.8 million.
The most impressive amount was a haul by Georgia Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene, who was stripped of her committee assignments back in February by Democrats. She brought in $3.2 million.
In contrast, the anti-Trump Republicans also did fairly well in their fundraising efforts.
Perhaps the most impressive total flowed to Rep. Liz Cheney (R-WY), who has been quite outspoken about her opposition to Trump. She raked in $1.54 million.
Another outspoken House member who voted to impeach Trump, Adam Kinzinger (R-IL), raised $2.2 million.
First on @FoxNews – @GOP hauls in $17.8 million last month, a March fundraising record for an off-election year, bringing their Q1 total to $44.4 million. RNC touts that 84% of contributions came from small-dollar donors https://t.co/9Y9jPBTgyF #GOP #Republicans #2022Elections pic.twitter.com/9wGfAKdwLi
— Paul Steinhauser (@steinhauserNH1) April 20, 2021
Trump And Republicans
While many establishment Republicans see Donald Trump as the problem, his supporters see him as the solution to any woes the party may be experiencing.
Immediately following the Jan. 6 riot on Capitol Hill, many of those establishments Republicans, such as Cheney and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, were quick to blame Trump for the violence.
Trump and McConnell have continued their war of words. Trump has blasted McConnell on several occasions, most recently at a meeting of possible GOP hopefuls at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida.
McConnell may be seeing the financial advantage to Republicans to having Trump around. According to various reports, McConnell would like to call a truce with Trump. He said that,
“What I’m concentrating on is the future and what we are confronted with here is a totally left-wing administration, with a slight majority in the House, a 50-50 Senate trying to transform America into something no one voted for last year,”
McConnell seeks to end feud with Trump https://t.co/hsIIYzstji pic.twitter.com/fTIwXoEI8o
— The Hill (@thehill) April 13, 2021
GOP Putting Together Strategy For 2022, 2024
For now, factions and feuds aside, Republicans may be getting down to business and creating a viable strategy for taking back both the House and the Senate.
Trump held his Mar-a-Lago meeting.
There are also meetings being held between possible candidates and the Republican Study Committee, the conservative caucus in the House.
A memo was put out by Caucus Chair Rep. Jim Banks (R-IN), stating that Trump had done well with working class Americans in the last election, and that the GOP needs to capitalize on that.
The RNC has also attributed their fundraising success to small dollar donations, which made up 80% of donations during their March haul.
Trump’s influence over GOP is tested in early 2022 fundraising https://t.co/cZjPL5FPOg via @Yahoo
— Seth Lovett (@SethLovett87) April 18, 2021
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