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The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee nearly tripled the National Republican Senatorial Committee's fundraising in January, according to reports filed with the Federal Election Commission, a potentially worrying sign for Senate Republicans as they restart their efforts to retake the majority in the upper chamber.

Senate Democrats raised $4.2 million last month and have $3 million on hand. The NRSC, meanwhile, raised $1.5 million and have about $3.2 million available.

Aides at the NRSC dismiss the fundraising report's significance, pointing out that the committee was hiring new staff members for much of January. Unlike the DSCC committee, which retained many of its key leaders, including executive director Guy Cecil, the NRSC was overhauled following last year's election.

"Congrats to the DSCC for out-raising an empty building," said NRSC communications director Brad Dayspring. "It's a big day for them."

Still, the NRSC's low returns will increase the scrutiny on future fundraising reports. The NRSC, under new Chairman Jerry Moran of Kansas, is trying to lead the committee back to prominence after the disappointment of last year's elections, in which Republicans lost a net of two seats, despite a favorable map.

In one good bit of news for Senate Republicans, their monthly FEC filing shows that the NRSC has only have $10 million in debt. That's less than the nearly $16 million carried by the DSCC.