DFL says it smashed its off-year fundraising record in 2019

The Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party announced on Thursday it smashed its fundraising record in 2019.

Last year the DFL raised more than $8.1 million, entering 2020 with more than $650,000 cash on hand.

The total is double the DFL's previous fundraising record in a non-election year, when it raised $4.1 million in 2017.

The total will be a boost for the party ahead of a hugely significant political year, with the DFL seeking to flip the Senate at the state level, as well as fight for congressional seats and to keep Minnesota blue in the 2020 presidential elections.

"Our record-breaking fundraising is proof that DFLers are fired up and ready to win races up and down the ballot in November," said DFL Chairman Ken Martin.

"The unprecedented grassroots support our party received from DFLers in every single county in Minnesota has ensured the DFL has the resources to take on the Trump campaign, take back the State Senate, and defend the incredible gains we made in 2018."

In its federal filing, the DFL said it entered 2020 with a little less cash on hand, at $550,000, with around $56,000 in existing debts.

The Minnesota Republican Party has not yet filed its end-of-year report, per MPR News' Brian Bakst.

The DFL says its grassroots credentials have been boosted by the fact that some 93 percent of its donations were of $100 or less. 

More than 90 percent of donations came from Minnesota, with others coming from all other states except for West Virginia.