In the high-stakes battle for Senate control, two groups aligned with the longtime Republican leader in the Senate, Mitch McConnell (R-KY), reported a record fundraising haul of over $51 million in just the first three months of the year. 

The Senate Leadership Fund brought in $24.4 million during the first quarter of 2024, while the affiliated non-profit One Nation raised $26.99 million, marking a combined fundraising record for the first quarter of an election year, according to figures shared with Fox News Digital on Tuesday.

Steven Law, President and CEO of Senate Leadership Fund, the premiere super PAC backing Senate Republican incumbents and candidates, emphasized the political climate, saying, 

Our donors know how consequential the battle for the Senate is this election cycle. We’re putting in the work to ensure Republicans have a lasting Senate Majority come January 2025.

In a notable surge, One Nation raised over double its previous totals from the same period in the 2022 election cycle. The Senate Leadership Fund maintained a similar fundraising level as in the first quarter of 2022. As of April 1, the Senate Leadership Fund had $59.5 million in cash on hand, while One Nation reported $83 million in its coffers.

The Senate Majority PAC, the leading external group supporting Senate Democrats and affiliated with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), has not yet disclosed its fundraising figures for the first quarter. The Democrat-aligned super PAC surpassed the GOP Senate Leadership Fund in fundraising totals last year.

Democrats currently hold a slim 51-49 majority in the chamber, which includes three independent senators who caucus with the Democratic conference. The GOP is favored going into 2024, as Republicans need a net gain of either one or two seats to win the majority, depending on which party controls the White House after this year's presidential election.

The closely contested battleground states including West Virginia, Montana, Ohio, Arizona, Michigan, Nevada, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin, are expected to ultimately decide which party gains control of the Senate.

Democrats are defending 23 of the 34 seats up for grabs. Three of those seats are in states that former President Trump carried in 2020 – West Virginia, Montana, and Ohio. The seat in West Virginia is an open seat after moderate Democrat Sen. Joe Manchin announced late last year that he would not seek re-election.

Sen. McConnell, aged 82 and the longest-serving Senate leader in U.S. history, revealed two months ago his plan to step down from his leadership role after the November elections. 

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Senator John Thune (R-SD) and Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) have officially entered the succession race for the Senate GOP leader. Both Thune and Cornyn have substantial fundraising histories, with Cornyn notably being one of the top fundraisers in the previous election cycle and having already directed sizable funds to the National Republican Senatorial Committee this cycle.

McConnell's fundraising track record, having raised over $1 billion for Republicans since 2015 through affiliated groups, sets a high standard for his successor to emulate.