Donald Trump Donates to NRSC Again

National Republican Senatorial Committee Chairman John Cornyn (Texas) has a generous friend at Trump Tower.

Donald Trump cut a $30,800 check to the NRSC in May, online finance records show.

The real estate mogul has been helpful to Senate Republicans before. In the 2010 cycle, he gave about the same amount to the NRSC, plus hosted a fundraiser for the committee at Trump Tower in New York City a few weeks before Election Day.

“We’re big fans of his and we’re thankful for his support,” NRSC Executive Director Rob Jesmer said.

Online records show Trump also cut checks this cycle for Linda McMahon, a Republican seeking Connecticut’s open Senate seat, and appointed Sen. Dean Heller (R), who is seeking a full term in Nevada.

Trump donated to a couple of House Republicans, too, including Reps. Allen West (Fla.) and Peter King (N.Y.).

DSCC Raised $8M in June

The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee announced today that it raised $8 million in June, ending the month with $31.4 million in cash on hand. Full story

Illinois: Tammy Duckworth Fundraises for Nominee in 12th

Just how confident is Iraq War veteran Tammy Duckworth (D) that she will defeat Rep. Joe Walsh (R)? She’s fundraising — for another candidate.

Duckworth penned a campaign plea for retired Maj. Gen. William Enyart, the new Democratic nominee in the 12th district. Local Democrats selected Enyart after their original nominee dropped out of the race in May for health reasons.

In an email from VoteVets.org, Duckworth thanked her supporters and donors before making the pitch for her “personal friend.” Full story

Michigan: Members Choose Sides in Hansen Clarke-Gary Peters Race

Rep. Gary Peters received donations from a couple of his House Democratic colleagues. (Douglas Graham/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

A few House Democrats have picked sides in the approaching primary between Reps. Gary Peters and Hansen Clarke, according to their finance reports.

Democratic Reps. John Larson (Conn.) and Norm Dicks (Wash.) donated to Peters through their committees. Democratic Reps. Marcia Fudge (Ohio) and Mike Honda (Calif.) gave to Clarke through their campaigns.

Michigan lost a House seat because of population loss, and Republicans in the Legislature dismantled the Detroit area seats in their redraw of the Congressional map last year, prompting the Clarke and Peters matchup.

The two lawmakers will face off Aug. 7. The winner of the primary in the Democratic stronghold will likely be the next Member of Congress for the 14th district.

Arizona: Jim DeMint, Pat Toomey Raise Money for Jeff Flake

(Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

More and more Republican Senators are actively supporting Rep. Jeff Flake’s Senate campaign.

Flake is set to host a pair of Washington, D.C., fundraisers Wednesday and Thursday, according to an invitation to the events.

Special guests to this evening’s fundraiser at Charlie Palmer Steak include GOP Sens. Jim DeMint (S.C.) and Pat Toomey (Pa.). Attendees are being asked to contribute $1,000.

On Thursday, Sen. Lamar Alexander (Tenn.) is set to be a special guest at Flake’s luncheon fundraiser at Johnny’s Half Shell. PACs are being asked to contribute $1,000; individuals are being asked to donate $500.

Flake is embroiled in a nasty primary with real estate investor Wil Cardon in the race to replace retiring Sen. Jon Kyl (R). Former Surgeon General Richard Carmona is the presumptive Democratic nominee. Roll Call rates this race as Leans Republican.

By the Numbers: Fundraising in Member-Vs.-Member Races

Rep. Gary Peters (above) ended June with more than twice as much money in the bank as his Democratic opponent, fellow Rep. Hansen Clarke. (Douglas Graham/CQ Roll Call)

Four down, and just eight more Member-vs.-Member matchups left this cycle. Here’s how the second-quarter fundraising went in the remaining races between two House Members:

Michigan’s 14th district (Aug. 7 primary)

• Rep. Gary Peters (D) raised $316,000, spent $733,000 and reported $813,000 in the bank.
• Rep. Hansen Clarke (D) raised $70,000, spent $253,000 and reported $381,100 in the bank. Full story

Arizona: Trent Franks to Host Fundraiser for Wil Cardon

Rep. Trent Franks (above) will host a fundraiser for GOP Senate candidate Wil Cardon. (Bill Clark/Roll Call File Photo)

Rep. Trent Franks (R) will host a Washington, D.C., fundraiser for GOP Senate candidate Wil Cardon.

Cardon is in an increasingly negative primary with Rep. Jeff Flake (R) to succeed retiring Sen. Jon Kyl (R).

According to the invitation, the July 24 fundraiser’s suggested contributions are $1,000 for a political action committee or $250 per individual.

Franks endorsed Cardon in June. Flake picked up endorsements last week from Kyl and Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.). The presumptive Democratic nominee is former Surgeon General Richard Carmona. Roll Call rates this race as Leans Republican.

California: Brad Sherman Loans Himself $450,000 After Primary

(Douglas Graham/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

Rep. Brad Sherman loaned his campaign $450,000 on June 6, the day after finishing 10 points ahead of fellow Democratic Rep. Howard Berman in the top-two primary.

That helped Sherman bring in $764,000 total in the second quarter and boosted him back above $3 million in cash on hand as of June 30.

“We have more than six times as much money in the bank as Berman,” Sherman chief campaign strategist Parke Skelton said in a statement. “That presents the Berman campaign with a very daunting fund-raising challenge.” Full story

Texas: Ted Cruz Bests David Dewhurst in Individual Donations

When it comes to individual contributions, former Texas Solicitor General Ted Cruz outraised Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst in the GOP runoff to replace retiring Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison.

The Cruz campaign raised $1.7 million in individual donations. Individual contributors donated $1.5 million to the Dewhurst campaign.

Still, Dewhurst’s overall financial picture is bright. In total, he took in almost $6 million; about $4.5 million of that was his own money. Cruz, who loaned his campaign $960,000 for a total $2.7 million, will have the help of outside groups such as the Club for Growth and super PACs.

Maine: Democratic Poll Shows Mike Michaud Way Up

(Joshua Miller/CQ Roll Call)

A new poll from Maine Rep. Mike Michaud (D) shows him leading his GOP challenger, state Senate President Kevin Raye, by 32 points. In a horse-race matchup among likely voters, Michaud led Raye 62 percent to 30 percent, with 8 percent of those polled undecided.

In a polling memo from Democratic firm Normington, Petts & Associates, which conducted the survey for Michaud, pollster Jill Normington noted that Michaud is well-liked. Fifty-one percent of those polled had a favorable impression of Michaud, while only 21 percent had saw him unfavorably.

The Raye campaign knocked the release of the poll.

“It appears as though the Michaud campaign needs a little comic relief,” said Raye adviser Kathie Summers-Grice. “Any time Mike has a bad fundraising quarter, it’s duck and deflect and let’s throw something out there.” Full story

Florida: Connie Mack IV Beefs Up Fundraising Team

(Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

Rep. Connie Mack IV (R) has hired veteran Washington, D.C., fundraisers in an effort to bolster his Senate prospects, hoping to capitalize on recent polls that have shown him running competitive with Sen. Bill Nelson (D).

According to Republican sources, Mack, at the urging of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, has hired well-known fundraiser Jim McCray to handle his national fundraising and has brought on Michael Gula and Jonathan Graham of Gula Graham to handle his political action committee fundraising. Among its other Congressional clients, the Gula Graham Group has long been been retained by Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) to run his PAC fundraising. McCray, meanwhile, has worked on multiple GOP presidential campaigns. Full story

Wisconsin: Tommy Thompson Outraises Mark Neumann

Updated 3:30 p.m. | Former Gov. Tommy Thompson outraised his competitors for the Republican nomination for Wisconsin’s open Senate seat with an $834,000 haul. Former Rep. Mark Neumann raised $733,000 and businessman Eric Hovde took in $237,000.

Despite Thompson’s apparent financial advantage, Neumann and Hovde have assets that are not clear from the total raised. Hovde is independently wealthy and has spent millions of his own money on his campaign. Neumann, who is set to up his investment on television advertising, has the backing of outsiders such as the Club for Growth, which has spent heavily to support him.

Full story

Hawaii: Fundraising, Dueling Polls in Senate Race

In their potential showdown for the Hawaii’s open Senate seat, Rep. Mazie Hirono (D) and former Gov. Linda Lingle (R) have in the last two days announced their second-quarter fundraising and released dueling polls.

Lingle raised more than $1.1 million in the second quarter, outpacing Hirono, who brought in $941,000 from April to June and had $2 million in cash on hand as of June 30. Lingle did not release her cash-on-hand total. Full story

California: Big Money Raised in Battle for 26th District

State Sen. Tony Strickland (R) and state Assemblywoman Julia Brownley (D), battling for the open 26th district in Ventura County, both raised more than $600,000 in the second quarter.

Strickland, a top Republican recruit, announced raising $605,000 for the period ending June 30 and had more than $1 million in cash on hand.

Brownley, who entered the race late after another Democrat opted not to run, announced raising $637,000 and had $320,000 in cash on hand. She’s raised a total of $923,000 to date.

Iowa: Leonard Boswell Has Best Quarter Yet — But It’s Still Not Enough to Top Tom Latham

During the second quarter, Rep. Tom Latham (R) built on his massive money advantage over his November opponent, Rep. Leonard Boswell (D).

Latham ended June with $2.14 million in cash on hand — more than four times the amount in Boswell’s campaign bank account.

Boswell and Latham are running for the 3rd district in southwestern Iowa, which includes Des Moines. Latham, one of Speaker John Boehner’s (R-Ohio) top allies, has eclipsed Boswell in fundraising throughout the campaign.

Boswell raised $300,000 in the most recent quarter, marking his best fundraising report since 2006. But Latham raised $500,000 during the same period.

Boswell will report $470,000 in the bank, according to his top campaign aide.

The Hawkeye State lost a House seat because of lagging population growth, effectively forcing the two Members to face off this November. An independent redistricting commission redrew the state’s Congressional lines last year.