Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., is holding onto nearly $7.4 million in campaign funds as Republicans prepare for a crucial midterm election cycle, according to a new federal filing. The money remained in his campaign committee when McConnell returned to Capitol Hill in September after a three-month, health-related absence.

McConnell, who opted not to seek an eighth Senate term, has not distributed the surplus to Republican candidates or party committees. That includes the Senate Leadership Fund and Texas PAC, political committees associated with Senate Majority Leader John Thune, who succeeded McConnell as the Republican leader in the Senate.

With Republicans fighting to maintain their congressional majorities, the decision to retain the funds raises questions about how the money will be used before McConnell leaves the Senate in January. Campaign funds held by retiring lawmakers can provide an additional source of support for candidates and party organizations during competitive election cycles.

McConnell’s campaign committee has several options for handling the surplus. It can donate up to $2,000 per election to other federal candidate committees and transfer unlimited amounts to national party committees, including the Republican National Committee and the National Republican Senatorial Committee.

The committee can also direct money toward eligible charities or nonprofit universities. One institution with an existing connection to McConnell is the nonpartisan McConnell Center at the University of Louisville, established in 1991 to encourage Kentucky’s top students to pursue higher education in their home state. McConnell raised the initial funds for scholarships associated with the center.

Other legal options include refunding contributions to donors or transferring the remaining money to the U.S. Treasury’s general fund.

The nearly $7.4 million reserve leaves McConnell with a significant financial resource to allocate before his Senate career ends. Whether he ultimately directs the money toward Republican campaigns, national party organizations, charitable causes or another permitted destination could determine whether the funds play a role in the upcoming election cycle.