The fundraising call was organized by House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy. | Getty House Republicans scramble for cash to stop Democratic takeover

Two of the three top House Republicans hosted a conference call Wednesday to urge GOP lawmakers to pony up cash to endangered colleagues, as the party faces one of the most challenging political climates in recent memory, according to sources familiar with the call.

More than 80 lawmakers joined the call, which was organized by House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.). Majority Whip Steve Scalise of Louisiana, the No. 3 House Republican, and Rep. Patrick McHenry of North Carolina, the chief deputy whip, also dialed into the teleconference. They were asking for cash from lawmakers who are in safe GOP seats and can afford to relinquish the money.


The call, described by several sources, came just hours before Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump were slated to begin their final debate in Las Vegas. The sources said the call was not meant as a sign of crisis in the party, but was aimed at getting resources to troubled candidates who could lose their seats, as the GOP nominee trails by double digits points in some polls.

In recent days, House Republican sources have pegged their losses next month at between 10 and 20 seats, but many top aides and lawmakers concede that Trump's reeling campaign could cost them the 30 seats it would take for Democrats to win the House.

The National Republican Congressional Committee penned a memo Wednesday stating that "in this volatile environment, the current fundraising gap [with Democrats] is unsustainable, and will negatively affect Republican electoral prospects if not addressed." The memo, first reported by The Washington Post, was discussed on the call, according to a source on the line.

"While Republicans remain in good position to retain a strong majority in the House, that position is becoming increasingly precarious, due to a combination of a volatile national environment and the risk of a substantial spending gap in favor of Democrats," the memo reads. "If left uncorrected, we could run the risk of facing substantial losses on November 8."

The NRCC counts on member contributions to fund much of its political activity.

The warnings come as the Congressional Leadership Fund, the top House Republican super PAC, has begun spending millions of dollars to build a firewall around previously safe GOP seats that Democrats could pick off.

Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) was in Florida on Wednesday campaigning for Rep. Carlos Curbelo, who is vying to hold his competitive, Miami-area seat. McCarthy was in California campaigning for Rep. Steve Knight, whose district is north of Los Angeles.

