The news comes after this weekend’s historic special election in a local Texas race, in which Democratic candidate Taylor Rehmet defeated his Trump-endorsed Republican opponent by double digits. Rehmet will now represent Texas state Senate District 9, a historically red stronghold that President Donald Trump won in 2024 by 17 points.

Rehmet’s election victory was especially encouraging to DNC Chairman Ken Martin, who called the win a “warning sign to Republicans across the country” as his party gears up for the midterm elections.

Despite the stunning loss, the Republican Party is motivated by its massive fundraising haul.

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) said he is extremely optimistic about his party’s performance in this year’s election cycle.

“We’re going to have a war chest to run on and a great record and extraordinary candidates out there in the field,” Johnson told Fox News Sunday as he prepares to lay the groundwork for growing House Republicans’ narrow majority.

In a statement to the Washington Examiner, the RNC echoed Johnson’s messaging.

“The RNC closed out 2025 in a position of real strength, building a serious war chest as we head into the 2026 midterms focused on defending and expanding our Republican majorities,” RNC Chairman Joe Gruters said. “With nearly $100 million cash on hand, we’re ensuring our candidates have the resources they need to win and to push back against the far left’s radical agenda. With President Trump and our Finance Chair Vice President JD Vance leading the charge, Republicans are well-positioned to secure a full four years to deliver on the America First agenda.”

Countering the GOP statement, a DNC official told the Washington Examiner that the party has raised nearly twice as much under Martin as it did under the previous chairman. The official also noted that its grassroots contributions totaled nearly $79 million, almost double what it raised in 2017.

However, neither national party committee is the only fundraising player.

The National Republican Congressional Committee closed last year with more than $117 million, compared to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee’s $115 million.

Both party campaign committees for the Senate raised somewhat less, with Republicans raising $88 million and Democrats raising $79.8 million. However, Democrats have more cash on hand at $21.7 million. Republicans have $19.3 million in cash on hand.

The FEC filing deadline was Jan. 31.

While funding is a big factor in election performance, it did not appear to affect the recent state legislative race in Texas.

Rehmet only raised over $380,000, while Republican contender Leigh Wambsganss raised more than $2.5 million during her campaign. Wambsganss was also endorsed by Trump, but that did not shape the race in her favor.

DEMOCRAT TAYLOR REHMET FLIPS RED TEXAS STATE SENATE SEAT IN STUNNING UPSET

Speaking with reporters at his Mar-a-Lago resort on Sunday, Trump downplayed the significance of the Democratic Party’s win while also denying his involvement in the race, despite having endorsed Wambsganss.

“I’m not involved in that. That’s a local Texas race,” he replied when asked about his reaction to the special election’s outcome. “You mean I won by 17, and this person lost? Things like that happen.”