Democratic primary challengers stockpile cash, putting House incumbents on defense

Candidates looking to take down sitting members of Congress in primaries are stockpiling cash as their races heat up, according to fundraising reports filed Wednesday — and it’s Democratic lawmakers who are mostly on defense.

Candidates looking to take down sitting members of Congress in primaries are stockpiling cash as their races heat up, according to fundraising reports filed Wednesday — and it’s Democratic lawmakers who are mostly on defense.

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At least nine House Democrats and one Democratic senator, Ed Markey of Massachusetts, were outraised by their primary challengers in the first fundraising quarter of the year, suggesting the energy within the party that is clamoring for new leaders is fueling some of these contests.

More broadly, two dozen House Democrats and two Senate Democrats are facing primary challengers who raised around $200,000 or more during the first three months of the year, according to an NBC News analysis of reports filed with the Federal Election Commission. Only one House Republican was outraised by a primary challenger, and only two Republicans are facing opponents who raised more than $200,000.