The Senate Majority PAC, controlled by allies of Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, is expected to play a major role in Senate Democrats' defensive effort in 2018. | Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP Senate Majority PAC raised $4.5M in first half of 2017

Senate Majority PAC, the Democratic super PAC controlled by allies of Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, raised $4.6 million in the first six months of 2017, its fastest-ever fundraising start at the beginning of an election cycle.

The super PAC has spent little, and ended June with $4.5 million in the bank.


Senate Majority PAC is expected to play a major role in Senate Democrats' defensive effort in 2018, when 10 Democratic senators are facing reelection in states President Donald Trump won last November. In five of those states — Indiana, West Virginia, Montana, North Dakota and Missouri — Trump won by more than 10 percentage points.

Democrats are also targeting Republican senators in Nevada and Arizona.

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The super PAC raised between $1 million and $3 million in the first six months of the 2012, 2014 and 2016 election cycles. In June 2011, the equivalent time period when the same class of senators was last on the ballot, Senate Majority PAC had just over $1 million in the bank. It had less on hand at the same time in 2013 and 2015.

“Senate Majority PAC is off to its best start ever because Democratic donors are energized to beat Republicans in 2018," said JB Poersch, the group's president. "The GOP has undermined American families at every turn. Senate Democrats' commitment to a real economic agenda will help contribute to our success in 2018."