Can money buy Senate seats? Democrats intend to find out

Analysis: To win a House or Senate seat, candidates must first and foremost resonate with voters and prove to them that they represent their values, writes US political correspondent Griffin Connolly

Kentucky Democratic Senate candidate Amy McGrath has raised the most money of any congressional candidate this cycle. (Photo by Jason Davis/Getty Images)

When Kentucky Senate candidate Amy McGrath was declared the victor over progressive insurgent Charles Booker in the Bluegrass State’s Democratic primary earlier this month, major party donors and leaders exhaled a huge sigh of relief.

With the backing of Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and Democrats in Washington and their deep-pocket connections, Ms McGrath, a retired US Marine Corps fighter pilot, has raised $47.3m for her campaign to unseat Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, the most money of any congressional candidate this cycle.

She’d beaten Mr Booker by less than 3 percentage points, despite outspending him by nearly $27m since declaring her candidacy last year.