Updated at 3:55 p.m.: Revised to include Texas Democrats' comments.

WASHINGTON -- Dallas Democrat Colin Allred has pulled ahead of Rep. Pete Sessions in fund-raising -- one of five Democrats in Texas who have now eclipsed their rival in a district currently held by a Republican.

That's encouraging news for Democrats as they look for a blue wave to sweep them back into power in Congress. The fundraising dominance is a sign of donor enthusiasm, if not a sure predictor of victory -- and it's a wake-up call for Republicans.

Midterm elections almost always bring setbacks to the party that controls the White House. Democrats need to swing 21 seats nationwide to regain control of the House. They would love to pick up a few in deep-red Texas, and the fundraising prowess has fueled optimism they can pull that off.

Apart from Allred, an NFL football player turned civil rights lawyer, the four Democrats in Texas who have topped Republicans in GOP-held districts are:

Jana Lynne Sanchez, who is running against Ron Wright for the seat held by Rep. Joe Barton of Arlington, who is retiring.

Lizzie Fletcher, who is challenging Houston Rep. John Culberson.

Joseph Kopser, who faces Chip Roy, a former chief of staff to Sen. Ted Cruz, in the district held by another retiree, Rep. Lamar Smith of San Antonio.

Mary Jennings "MJ" Hegar, who is challenging Rep. John Carter of Round Rock.

The three incumbents are all high-ranking and powerful Republicans.

GOP strategists shrug aside the bad news contained in the latest campaign finance reports.

"These Democratic candidates are bought and paid for by Nancy Pelosi and her liberal allies. A vote for them is a vote to repeal middle class tax cuts, open our borders, and allow the government to take over our healthcare - facts no amount of money can change," said Jack Pandol, spokesman for the National Republican Congressional Committee, the party's House campaign arm.

Sessions is a member of the House GOP leadership and chairs the Rules Committee, which controls the flow of bills on the House floor. He chaired the NRCC for four years.

Allred lags in cash on hand, but he fought through a March primary and a May runoff, while Sessions coasted to nomination for a 12th two-year term. The race is on track to be one of the costliest House contests in the nation.

"The road to hold Trump accountable and take back Congress comes through Texas," said Texas Democratic chairman Gilberto Hinojosa. "It's clear that Texas Democrats are fired up."

At least one Republican in a solidly red district was slightly outraised. Rep. Roger Williams of Austin lagged challenger Julie Oliver by $3,000 over three months, though he maintains a formidable edge with $1.2 million in the bank compared with her meager $78,000.

Culberson and Carter both chair Appropriations subcommittee, which means they wield control over billions in federal spending -- posts so influential, they're referred to as "cardinals."

"Anyone who ignores the grass-roots energy in Texas does so at their own peril," said Cole Leiter, spokesman for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, that party's House campaign arm. He noted that Texas Democrats managed to field candidates in every congressional district for the first time in a quarter century, and saw growing turnout in the primaries.

"Strong Democratic challengers are outraising entrenched incumbents who have gotten comfortable in Washington's swamp and lost touch with the communities they're supposed to represent," he said.

True swing district

Hurd, a two-term Republican, holds a vast West Texas border district that has flipped repeatedly between each party in the last decade. He has distanced himself from President Donald Trump's demands for a border wall and other hardline immigration policies, but Democrats argue that he's still part of the party machinery that protects Trump.

"From day one, this campaign has been about giving the people of TX-23 the kind of representative they deserve -- someone who will fight for quality, affordable health care that can never be taken away, and a tax system that works for us, not the special interests," Ortiz Jones said Monday in a written statement. "We've built a broad coalition of support across the district -- and we're better-positioned than ever to hold Will Hurd accountable for his votes, and to win in November."

In Houston, Fletcher has raised nearly $2.5 million compared with Culberson's $2 million, though the incumbent has a cash on-hand edge of about $400,000 according to campaign filings that run through June 30.

"Our campaign is powered by people in this community, who have seen John Culberson choose Washington politics over people here in Houston," Fletcher said in a statement provided by aides. "I am extremely proud of the outpouring of local support that has come since day one of our campaign. The momentum we are creating, coupled with the broad coalition we continue to build, will help switch this seat and bring TX-07 the representation we deserve in Congress."

Democrats are highlighting other good news in the latest financial reports.

In the three-month period covered by the most recent financial reports -- March 1 to June 30 -- eight Texas Democrats out-raised Republicans in GOP-held congressional districts.

Some of those Democrats lag substantially in overall fundraising and in cash on hand, however. For instance, Rep. Pete Olson, R-Sugar Land, raised $202,000 in the last quarter -- $32,000 less than challenger Sri Preston Kulkarni. But Olson is still well positioned to defend his seat, with a war chest of $253,000, compared with Kulkarni's $89,000.

Allred's money

Allred's fundraising took off after the March primary, when he easily topped a seven-Democrat field. In the first month after that, he hauled in $220,000

The money kept coming, and he secured the nomination in a May runoff by dispatching former Obama administration official Lillian Salerno. The strong fundraising continued, and he posted nearly $1.1 million for the second quarter.

Money is not expected to be a problem for either Sessions or Allred, since national Democratic and Republican donors are expected to weigh in with significant cash.

The race could ultimately be a base fight, with each side using its financial stockpiles to bolster voter turnout and blanket the Dallas TV market with ads.

On Sunday, former Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick knocked on doors with Allred.

Sessions has been a prolific fundraiser and a successful GOP strategist. He was chairing the NRCC in 2010, when Republicans netted 63 seats to take control of the House in one of the biggest power swings in U.S. history.

Big name backers include Dallas businessman Roy Bailey, who raised millions of dollars for Trump's campaign against Hillary Clinton. Bailey says Sessions will have the money he needs.