The woman hoping to challenge U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell in next year's general election is off to a record-setting fundraising start.
Amy McGrath, a former Marine fighter pilot, took to MSNBC Tuesday morning to announce her bid for the Senate seat held by McConnell since 1985.
Within 24 hours, McGrath’s campaign raised $2.5 million. The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee says that dwarfs the previous record of $1 million dollars raised during the first 24 hours of a Democratic Senate bid.
NBC News reportsthe entire $2.5 million given to McGrath’s campaign came in the form of online donations, with the average donation a little more than $36.
McGrath will need a prolific fundraising effort to unseat McConnell. The Louisville Republican raised and spent more than $30 million in 2014, when he was challenged for his seat by Democrat Alison Lundergan Grimes.
McGrath unsuccessfully challenged Kentucky 6th District U.S. Rep. Andy Barr last year, losing that race by a little more than three points.