The Democrats are facing a tough battle to maintain the majority. However, their most vulnerable incumbents have had the best fundraising quarters in the first election year.

Senate Democrats have a fundraising advantage over their GOP counterparts as they prepare for a hard battle to maintain their narrow majority.

In six of the seven races that are critical for control of the chamber, Democratic candidates and incumbents have outraised Republicans in the first three-month period of this year. Some of these races were won by large margins.

In the most difficult races, incumbents raised the most money. This ensures that they can mount the best possible campaign as they try to win reelection.

Sen. Sherrod brown of Ohio raised $12,1 million in the first three months of the year. This is three times as much money as the GOP’s Bernie Moreno who won a crowded primaries last month. Brown also has nine times as much cash in his pocket after Moreno’s brutal primary.

Sen. Jon Tester, a senator from Montana, raised $8 million during the first quarter. Tim Sheehy brought in $3.1million, his likely Republican opponent.

Jacky Rosen, a Nevada Democratic Senator, raised $5 million in Nevada. This is more than double the amount of Republican Sam Brown who was backed by National Republican Senatorial Committee. In Michigan, Democratic Rep. Elissa slotkin raised four-times more money than Mike Rogers, former Rep., who was the NRSC’s favorite candidate to fill this open seat. Ruben Gallego, a Democratic Rep. in Arizona, raised $7.5M, which is more than twice the amount of Republican Kari Lake.

Cash-on-hand is even more striking, since Democrats have been accumulating campaign funds for years.

Over the seven most competitive races in each state, Democratic candidates collectively raised $82.3 million. In these seven states, the NRSC-endorsed candidate had only $21.5 million.

Although Democrats have won the cash race, they face tough odds in November. The map is against them. The map is stacked against them.

The Republicans were aware that they would lose out to the Democrats in terms of fundraising and so prepared themselves for this eventuality by carefully courting wealthy candidates who could donate money to their campaigns. This strategy is beginning to work.

In Wisconsin, Republican Eric Hovde’s $8 million campaign quarter beat Democratic Sen. Tammy Baldwin’s $5.4million. Dave McCormick, a Republican from Pennsylvania, raised $5.4m, which included a loan of nearly $1m. This brought him almost on par with Democratic Senator Bob Casey who raised $5.7million.

In Maryland, an overwhelmingly blue state in which Republicans hope to re-elect former Governor Hogan, Democrats have their own self-funder. Larry Hogan’s candidacy could make them more competitive. David Trone, a Democratic Rep. who is running for the open Senate seat in Maryland, has invested more than $42 million into his campaign. In the primary next month, he will be facing off against Prince George’s county executive Angela Alsobrooks.

Republicans recruited Hogan. He reported that he raised nearly $1.9million since his launch in February. Hogan could, like other GOP candidates, have a super PAC that is flush with cash to help his campaign. Ken Griffin, a GOP megadonor, seeded $10 million into a super PAC focused on Maryland.

Texas is still the best offensive opportunity for Democrats, and their financial advantage there also remains. Democratic Rep. Colin Allred has raised $9.5m to Sen. Ted Cruz’s $7m.