ST.PAUL 鈥� When it comes to 2024 federal campaigns, Democrats have raised more than twice as much funding in Minnesota as their Republican counterparts, according to the by the Federal Elections Commission.
Blue candidates have raised $44,776,000 in campaigning for the Nov. 5 general election, while red candidates have raised $18,133,000 鈥� an almost $30 million deficit.
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Campaign funds can run the gamut, from an $8 yard sign to a hefty $500,000 contribution from a large business. These totals are separate from party funds and don鈥檛 include Minnesota state House and Senate races 鈥� though on Minnesota state elections shows a similar pattern, with the DFL raising $5,932,000 compared to just $296,600 for the GOP.
DFL Party Chair Ken Martin explained that while money is not the sole factor in determining how competitive a race will be, it certainly is a consideration 鈥� alongside polling and results of the last election.
鈥淐ampaigns can use the money they raise in a wide variety of ways, including staff, offices, advertising, literature, lawn signs and supplies,鈥� he said. 鈥淪uccessful fundraising is an advantage in politics, but only if those dollars are well-spent.鈥�
Minnesota Congressional races
Total Democrat funding: $16,657,000
Total Republican funding: $14,710,000
Democratic campaigns for Minnesota鈥檚 Representatives in Congress have raised a total of $16.7 million, edging out Republican funding by just under $2 million.
District 1 鈥� Southern Minnesota
Democrat Rachel Bohman: $219,000
Republican Brad Finstad (incumbent): $1,506,000
Total raised so far: $1,725,000
District 1 is Minnesota鈥檚 fifth most expensive race, with incumbent Brad Finstad making up $1.5 million of the $1.7 million reportedly raised so far in the district. Bohman has spent $97,222 of her funding, while Finstad has spent $879,456.
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District 2 鈥� South metro and southeast Minnesota
Democrat Angie Craig (incumbent): $6,119,000
Republican Joe Teirab: $1,727,000
Total raised so far: $7,846,000
District 2 is the second most expensive race in the state, and incumbent Rep. Angie Craig is significantly outpacing her opponents in funding, with a total of $6,119,000 raised. Craig has reportedly spent $2,016,727 to date on her 2024 campaign, while Teirab has spent $1,190,984.
Despite the monetary difference, the race has been dubbed the most competitive. In 2022, the district voted 50.9% Democrat, 45,7% Republican and the rest independent, according to the Minnesota Secretary of State鈥檚 office. Financial backing like this can point to districts where parties see a battleground.
District 3 鈥� Greater Hennepin County
Democrat Kelly Morrison: $1,362,000
Republican Tad Jude: $163,000
Total raised so far: $1,525,000
District 3 shows less competitive funding. While there is no incumbent in District 3 after Dean Phillips left an open seat for a failed presidential bid, Democrat Kelly Morrison has raised $1,362,000 and competitor Tad Jude, a Republican, is reportedly at $163,000.
Morrison has spent $679,254 of her funds, while Jude has spent $124,072.
District 4 鈥� Ramsey County and suburbs
Democrat Betty McCollum (incumbent): $1,365,000
Republican May Lor Xiong: $53,000
Total raised so far: $1,418,000
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Betty McCollum, a Democrat running for reelection, has raised $1,365,000 to Republican May Lor Xiong鈥檚 $53,000.
McCollum has spent $1,070,737 of her funds, while Xiong has spent $31,666.
District 5 鈥� Minneapolis and suburbs
Democrat Ilhan Omar (incumbent): $6,788,000
Republican Dalia Al-Aqidi: $1,290,000
Total raised so far: $8,078,000
District 5 is the second most expensive race, with $8.08 million raised so far. Incumbent Ilhan Omar, a Democrat, accounts for $6.8 million of that funding, with challenger Republican Dalia Al-Aqidi raising $1.3 million.
Omar has spent $6,157,892 of her funds, while Al-Aqidi has spent $1,204,572.
District 6 鈥� North and west metro and St. Cloud
Democrat Jeanne Hendricks: $31,000
Republican Tom Emmer (incumbent): $6,759,000
Total raised so far: $6,790,000
In the race for Congressional District 6, Republican incumbent Tom Emmer has blown past his opponent, raising $6,759,000 to Democrat Jeanne Hendricks鈥� $31,000.
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Hendricks has spent $24,601 while Emmer has spent $4,510,232.
District 7 鈥� Western Minnesota
Democrat A. John Peters: $15,000
Republican Michelle Fischbach (incumbent): $1,554,000
Total raised so far: $1,569,000
John Peters, a Democrat, has raised $15,000 and spent $5,730 on his 2024 campaign, while Republican Michelle Fischbach has raised $1,554,000 and spent $1,070,004.
District 8 鈥� Northeastern Minnesota
Democrat Jen Schultz: $758,000
Republican Pete Stauber (incumbent): $1,658,000
Total raised so far: $2,416,000
In District 8鈥檚 race, Democrat Jen Schultz has raised $758,000 and spent $508,072, while Republican and incumbent Pete Stauber has raised $1,658,000 and spent $1,039,063.
Minnesota Senate races
Democrat Amy Klobuchar (incumbent): $18,973,000
Republican Royce White: $133,000
Incumbent Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar has raised $18,973,000 for her reelection campaign, while opponent Republican Royce White has so far raised $133,000.
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Presidential race funding from Minnesota
Democrat Kamala Harris: $9,146,000
Republican Donald Trump: $3,290,000
to Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris, who has raised $9 million from Minnesota compared to Trump鈥檚 $3 million. On a national level, most recent reports from the FEC show that Harris鈥� campaign has raised $678,938,000 nationally, with Trump at $313,042,000.
Editor's note: All data from this story was sourced from the Federal Election Commission
Districts with the most total funding for Minnesota congressional campaigns:
1. District 5: $8,078,000
2. District 2: $7,846,000
3. District 6: $6,790,000
4. District 8: $2,416,000
5. District 1: $1,725,000
6. District 3: $1,525,000
7. District 4: $1,418,000
8. District 7: $1,569,000
Source: Federal Election Commission
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