Exclusive: Mike Johnson raises record $156 million for House GOP

House Speaker Mike Johnson raised $30 million in the third quarter, bringing his total haul this cycle to $156 million as Republicans fight to hold on to their increasingly endangered majority, Axios has learned. Why it matters: Johnson's team says that's the most raised by a Republican speaker or leader at this point in an election cycle. Johnson has distributed more than $91 million to Republican members, candidates, committees and state parties this cycle, according to figures first shared with Axios. That includes $46 million transferred to the National Republican Congressional Committee, putting him on pace to make the largest cycle transfer to the group by a Republican speaker or leader. He's also sent $21.5 million directly to GOP incumbents and $7 million to challengers. Zoom out: Johnson's fundraising operation has brought in more than $220 million for House Republicans since he became speaker in October 2023. That's a notable turnaround from when Johnson first took the gavel, when Republicans worried whether the relatively unknown Louisiana Republican could replace former Speaker Kevin McCarthy's formidable fundraising operation. Johnson is also crisscrossing the country to help House Republicans, traveling to more than 40 districts across 22 states in the final stretch before Election Day, Axios previously reported. What they're saying: "We are focused on getting unprecedented resources to the Districts that will decide the majority," Johnson said in a statement to Axios. "With this continued momentum, we are in place to defy history and defend the House to save America from the far-left!" State of play: House Republicans have a cash advantage over Democrats. The NRCC ended August with $13 million more in cash on hand than the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, its largest-ever advantage at this point in an election cycle. But the House battlefield has continued to move toward Democrats. Cook Political Report shifted 15 House races toward Democrats last month, while Sabato's Crystal Ball moved 11 races toward Democrats days later. Many of the most competitive races are now in districts President Trump carried in 2024.

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