DNC takes out $15 million in loans

The Democratic National Committee took out $15 million in loans in October, according to a new filing with the Federal Election Commission.

DNC Chair Ken Martin said, regarding the Thursday filing, that the loans were already helping the party win elections this month and prepare for the 2026 midterms, POLITICO reported.

“We can’t win elections or fight back against Trump if the D.N.C. downsizes operations like it often does after a presidential cycle,” Martin said in a statement. “I made a bet that investing early would build power, rack up wins and rally supporters back to the table. That bet is paying off.”

Meanwhile, the Republican National Committee was sitting on $86 million at the end of September.

In October, the DNC spent $16.9 million, the most it has spent in any single month this year. The party spent over $6 million in New Jersey and Virginia to help Democratic gubernatorial candidates, along with hundreds of thousands of dollars in Pennsylvania to help retain control of the state’s Supreme Court. The Democratic Party was successful in all those races.

The DNC still sends about $1 million each month to state party committees, and reported $18.3 million cash on hand at the end of October. It has not reported more than $15 million in total debt since February 2014.

The national party doesn't usually take out this much in loans this early in the cycle.

The DNC saw slower fundraising this year amid its rebuilding efforts. The party’s fundraising numbers improved slightly in recent months, raising $7.5 million from donors in October, not far off from the same month in 2021.

Earlier this year, the DNC paid off $18 million in expenses left over from former Vice President Kamala Harris’ 2024 campaign.