By Thomas Mills

PoliticsNC

Campaign finance reports are in for the second quarter and Republicans have more reasons to worry both here and nationally. In particular, Democratic women have been busy raising money. According to EMILY’s List, 14 women in North Carolina legislative races out-raised their opponents including 12 first-time candidates who out-raised the incumbent Republicans they’re facing. Seven of those women more than doubled the amount of their opponents’ fundraising haul.

These figures are remarkable. Rarely do we see this many first-time candidates put together such solid campaigns. The money is a reflection of the candidates’ organizations but it’s also a measure of the publics’ enthusiasm for them—and disdain for their opponents.

It’s not just in North Carolina and it’s not just women. In Congressional races across the country, 56 Democratic challengers out-raised their Republican incumbent opponents. In NC-13, Kathy Manning doubled the amount Republican incumbent Ted Budd raised and in NC-09, Dan McCready out-raised his Republican opponent Mark Harris in an open seat. According to an article in Politico, Democrats are in a far stronger position today than Republicans were in 2010, the wave that swept them into power.

But, really, women candidates are the stars this cycle. They’re motivated and organized and they’re running differently than they have in the past. As the New York Times wrote, they’re breaking the rules and running campaigns that are more personal. They’ve nailed the authenticity mantra by just being who they are—moms, employees, veterans. And they’re raising bucket loads of money doing it.