House Republicans won at least a dozen seats and captured their largest majority in a generation last month, but doing so put them in the red heading into the 2016 cycle.
{mosads}According to a committee aide, the National Republican Congressional Committee will end the cycle with $8.8 million in debt.
During the post-general election reporting period with the Federal Election Commission, which covers Oct. 16 to Nov. 24, House Republicans raised $20.2 million and spent $32.3 million. The NRCC ended with just $3.1 million in the bank.
Even though they’re nearly $9 million in the red, it’s far less debt than the House GOP committee has carried in previous cycles. After both the 2010 and 2012 cycles, the NRCC was $12 million in debt. In 2010, Republicans gained 63 seats and took back the House, but during the 2012 presidential year the GOP lost eight seats.
Republicans are poised to pick up at least 12 House seats, and that number could still grow. The race between Rep. Ron Barber (D-Ariz.) and Republican Martha McSally is headed to a recount, with the GOP nominee clinging to a 161-vote lead.
House Democrats, who consistently outraised their GOP counterparts this past cycle, have not yet released their post-general election totals.