The Democratic National Committee said Thursday that it raised more than $10 million from grassroots donors in September, a late surge of money for the cash-strapped party with the midterm elections weeks away.

Democratic officials said that total outpaces what they raised in the same month in three previous midterm cycles.

They hope the tally, which they shared with The Associated Press before a federal reporting deadline later this month, reflects voter enthusiasm with control of Congress at stake in the Nov. 3 election.