Republican whip posts $1.1M fundraising haul

House Majority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.) is on a fundraising tear for members during an election year in which Republicans are looking to solidify their majority in the House.

The Louisiana lawmaker raised $1.1 million in the first quarter of 2016 in all of his fundraising vehicles, according to a person familiar with Scalise’s efforts. It’s a slight decline from this time last year, when he took in a record $1.5 million.

{mosads}But he hasn’t slowed down on fundraising for other Republican members of Congress. So far in the two-year election cycle, Scalise has raised a total of $3.6 million for other lawmakers both nationally and in Washington.

He has also given more than $1 million directly to members and candidates over the last 15 months from his leadership PAC — called Eye of the Tiger PAC — and his campaign committee.

“Steve has just kept the pedal to the metal. It goes to show that he’s going around to all these districts and raising money for all these rank-and-file members. That’s what we need,” said Mike Ference, a former aide to former House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.) and partner at S-3 Group. 

In the first three months of the year, Scalise spent a cumulative 20 days on the road, holding fundraisers in seven states and 16 cities. He raised roughly $2 million for other members on those trips and in Washington.

Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.), who was elected to the post in October, took in more than $17 million in the first quarter, with six-figure checks coming from donors with deep pockets such as Charles Koch, of Koch Industries, and Houston Texans owner Robert McNair.

The average donation to the Scalise operation was $2,229 in the first quarter. Quarterly reports are due to the Federal Election Commission on Friday.

“We need Ryan raising money for the party, that’s important,” Ference said. “But Scalise is the guy on the ground going to districts and raising money and trying to help out his colleagues, and that’s just as important.”

On Thursday, Scalise had an event with a ticket cost of $250, which is considered low for a congressional fundraiser.

“That tells you the kind of apparatus Steve has put together,” said Tim McGivern, a principal at Ogilvy Government Relations, who received an invitation to the event. “He’s doing things a little bit different. He wants to be inclusive, he wants a broader base of support.”

Republicans face an uphill climb in saving their Senate majority this year, with the party defending 24 seats, several in blue-leaning states. The possibility of Donald Trump or Ted Cruz winning the Republican nomination has Democrats feeling bullish about their chances in November. 

Still, lobbyists and others close to Scalise say that donors view keeping the House solidly in Republican control allows for a “backstop” should Hillary Clinton take the White House and the Senate flips. 

Scalise closed the books on March 31 with $1.4 million cash on hand.