House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy Kevin Owen McCarthyTrump asked Chamber of Commerce to reconsider Democratic endorsements: report The Hill's Morning Report - Sponsored by The Air Line Pilots Association - White House moves closer to Pelosi on virus relief bill Trump's sharp words put CDC director on hot seat MORE (R-Calif.) in a closed-door meeting of his conference on Tuesday admonished Republicans for insufficient fundraising, telling the members, "We're getting our ass kicked."

The stark message comes amid rising concerns that Democratic Party committees and candidates are building a massive financial advantage, seriously compromising the GOP’s chances of reclaiming the House in the elections in November.

At the meeting, McCarthy, House Minority Whip Steve Scalise Stephen (Steve) Joseph ScaliseHouse GOP slated to unveil agenda ahead of election House panel details 'serious' concerns around Florida, Georgia, Texas, Wisconsin elections Scalise hit with ethics complaint over doctored Barkan video MORE (R-La.) and National Republican Congressional Committee Chairman Tom Emmer Thomas (Tom) Earl EmmerHouse Democrats' campaign arm reserves .6M in ads in competitive districts The Hill's Convention Report: Trump to attack Biden at final night of convention | Speech comes amid hurricane, racial justice protests | Biden accuses Trump of 'rooting' for violence Republicans cast Trump as best choice for women MORE (R-Minn.) urged members to step up their fundraising and their contributions to the NRCC.

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“Emmer said we are sounding the alarm,” one source in the room told The Hill. “Steve said members need to be raising money and paying dues, Kevin said we’re getting our ass kicked.”

“McCarthy and Emmer reviewed the overall numbers and the disparity. Also stressed difference between D and R member and candidate campaign COH [cash on hand] — about a $40m disparity,” one GOP lawmaker texted The Hill. “ Members need to meet their dues commitment minimally while also funding their campaign. Too many members well behind on their dues.”

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee raised $125 million in 2019, according to DCCC Chairwoman Cheri Bustos Cheryl (Cheri) Lea BustosThe Hill's Campaign Report: Biden asks if public can trust vaccine from Trump ahead of Election Day | Oklahoma health officials raised red flags before Trump rally DCCC dropping million on voter education program Clark rolls out endorsements in assistant Speaker race MORE (D-Ill.). Emmer said this month the NRCC had raised $85 million last year, a serious deficit even for a minority party.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi Nancy PelosiAs families deal with coronavirus, new federal dollars should follow the student Sunday shows - Ruth Bader Ginsburg's death dominates Hypocrisy rules on both sides over replacing Justice Ginsburg MORE (D-Calif.) raised $87 million for party committees and candidates in 2019; McCarthy’s office said Tuesday he had raised $52.3 million for Republican candidates and the NRCC, while Scalise raised $21 million.

“It’s not so much we’re doing badly or lagging where we’ve been,” said Rep. Tom Cole Thomas (Tom) Jeffrey ColeBottom line House approves .3 trillion spending package for 2021 Multiple lawmakers self-quarantine after exposure to Gohmert MORE (R-Okla.), a former NRCC chairman who attended Tuesday’s meeting. “You’ve got to tip your hat off to them, and we’ve got to do more.”

Dozens of potentially vulnerable Democrats who first won their seats in 2018 have reported been raising money at a breakneck pace; three-quarters of the DCCC’s roster of vulnerable incumbents will report raising more than $500,000 in the last three months of the year alone, far outpacing Republican challengers who are only now getting their campaigns off the ground.

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In the battle for the Senate, the most promising Democratic candidates are hauling in eye-popping sums.

Mark Kelly, the retired astronaut challenging Sen. Martha McSally Martha Elizabeth McSallyMcConnell locks down key GOP votes in Supreme Court fight Will Republicans' rank hypocrisy hinder their rush to replace Ginsburg? Trump supporters chant 'Fill that seat' at North Carolina rally MORE (R-Ariz.), reported raising $6.3 million in the final three months of the year, the third straight quarter Kelly has outraised McSally, who pulled in $4 million.

Maine state House Speaker Sara Gideon (D), challenging Sen. Susan Collins Susan Margaret CollinsMcConnell locks down key GOP votes in Supreme Court fight Most Americans think winner of election should pick next Supreme Court justice: poll Murkowski: Supreme Court nominee should not be taken up before election MORE (R), pulled in $3.5 million over the final quarter of the year, her campaign said Tuesday.

Former Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper John HickenlooperGardner on court vacancy: Country needs to mourn Ginsburg 'before the politics begin' Vulnerable GOP incumbents embrace filling Supreme Court seat this year GOP campaign director: 'There's no doubt that Republicans will control the Senate' MORE (D) raised $2.8 million for his campaign against Sen. Cory Gardner Cory Scott GardnerMcConnell locks down key GOP votes in Supreme Court fight Will Republicans' rank hypocrisy hinder their rush to replace Ginsburg? Jeff Flake: Republicans 'should hold the same position' on SCOTUS vacancy as 2016 MORE (R). Democratic candidates in South Carolina and Texas will report hauls north of a million dollars, too.

The National Republican Senatorial Committee has a slight cash advantage over its Democratic counterpart. The Republican National Committee has a huge edge over the Democratic National Committee, but the Democratic presidential candidates outraised President Trump Donald John TrumpBiden leads Trump by 36 points nationally among Latinos: poll Trump dismisses climate change role in fires, says Newsom needs to manage forest better Jimmy Kimmel hits Trump for rallies while hosting Emmy Awards MORE and the RNC combined in the last quarter.

The Senate Majority PAC, the largest outside group backing Democratic Senate candidates, reported hauling in $61 million in 2019, while the House Majority PAC pulled in $41 million. Neither of the two largest Republican outside groups have reported their 2019 totals yet.

Some Republicans have laid blame for the party’s fundraising woes at the feet of the presidential election cycle as Trump’s campaign hauls in tens of millions of dollars.

"You've got members that are well behind in their fundraising goals," one senior Republican lawmaker said. “I just think it's hard to do when there's so much money being sucked up by Trump, his campaign and the super PAC.”

But others say the problem is more structural.

Those Republicans pointed to Democratic success in building donor programs that hoover up money from thousands of small-dollar donors; ActBlue, the leading online fundraising platform that Democratic candidates use, reported raising more than $1 billion for the party, its candidates and causes in 2019. Its Republican counterpart, WinRed, only launched halfway through last year.

“The real problem is the giving cultural advancements that Democrats have made with their small-dollar donors that frankly have left Republicans in the dust. It’s not uncommon to meet a middle-class Democrat who has donated 20 bucks to a couple different presidential candidates and a handful of Senate and House candidates. This donor is currently a unicorn for Republicans,” said Josh Holmes, a Republican strategist with close ties to party leaders.

Some Republicans downplayed the seriousness of the warning delivered Tuesday. One House Republican said the meeting represented a standard “pay your dues” meeting.

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Rep. Greg Gianforte Gregory Richard GianfortePence seeks to boost Daines in critical Montana Senate race On The Trail: How Nancy Pelosi could improbably become president Supreme Court denies push to add Green Party candidates to Montana ballot MORE (R-Mont.), who is leaving Congress to run for governor, signed over $250,000 to the NRCC in a show of solidarity. Cole handed Emmer a $15,000 check on Monday.

Republicans hope to become the first party to lose the House in a midterm and win it back in a presidential election since they reclaimed control on Dwight Eisenhower’s coattails in 1952.

“The reality is, most places across the country, we’re going to be on offense. We’re going to have to have the money to do that, and we’re clearly not there,” Cole said. “A lot depends on how the president runs. He’s pretty unorthodox and in some ways unpredictable, but it’s hard for me to see him not carrying the seats he carried last time.”

“If people believe they can take the majority back, they’re a lot more likely to do it,” he added. “We’ve got to get more members to believe that.”

Updated at 1 p.m.