Crushing Republicans in fundraising

New Jersey Democratic House candidates crushing Republicans in fundraising

By MATT FRIEDMAN

Theoretically, freshman Democratic Rep. Josh Gottheimer should be in a competitive race this November in New Jersey‘s 5th Congressional District.

Gottheimer was, after all, elected in 2016 in a district that President Donald Trump won and has been held by Republicans for decades. His victory was the result, in no small part, of backlash from then-Republican Rep. Scott Garrett’s alleged anti-gay remarks.

But if money means anything, Gottheimer has little to worry about. He has more than $4.5 million in his campaign account, while his GOP opponent, John McCann, has just $6,492.46, according to reports filed with the FEC.

Gottheimer’s North Jersey district is the most extreme example of fundraising discrepancies between New Jersey Democrats and Republicans in districts that are considered competitive this year — or at least once were. The trend exists throughout the state. Fueled by anti-Trump anger and activism, Democrats aren’t just dominating Republicans in fundraising, they’re crushing them, according to the filings.

“It shows that New Jersey does not like Donald Trump and they’re going to take it out on the House elections,” said Matt Hale, a professor of political science at Seton Hall University.

Of New Jersey’s 12 congressional districts, six are considered at least somewhat competitive this year. Five of the seats are held by Republicans, two of whom are retiring. In the six competitive districts, Democratic candidates have nearly four times as much money in the bank as Republicans: $11.8 million to $3.1 million, according to the FEC filings.

Democrats hold seven of New Jersey’s 12 House seats. If you include the six Democratic incumbent House members, besides Gottheimer, who are not facing serious challengers this year, the Democrats’ cash advantage grows.

In South Jersey’s 2nd District, where 24-year incumbent Republican Frank LoBiondo is retiring, state Sen. Jeff Van Drew, the Democratic nominee, raised $377,535 during the last fundraising period — which ran from May 17 to June 30 — and has $674,517 in the bank.

Van Drew’s Republican opponent, Seth Grossman, appears to have capitalized on media reports that he called diversity “crap” and shared a racist article online. While the $62,313 he raised during the last period was an improvement on his previous fundraising, it’s still nowhere near Van Drew. Grossman also has just $56,381 in the bank.

In South Jersey’s 3rd District, Republican Rep. Tom MacArthur raised $281,963 during the period and has just over $1 million on hand. His Democratic opponent, Andy Kim, took in $686,809 during the same period and has nearly $1.7 million in the bank. While Kim has shown fundraising prowess, MacArthur, a Trump supporter, is worth at least $32 million, and put $5 million of his own money into his first election effort in 2014.

Even the dean of New Jersey’s congressional delegation, Republican Rep. Chris Smith, found himself out-raised during the last period. Smith, who has been in office since 1981, raised $134,500 between May 17 and June 30. His Democratic opponent, Josh Welle, raised more than twice as much: $275,299.

Smith is the only Republican in New Jersey to hold a cash-on-hand advantage over his Democratic opponent — $754,005 compared to Welle’s $326,907. Still, the idea Smith could face a credible challenge from a Democrat was laughable two years ago.

“The fact that even Welle is collecting a lot of money says a lot about Democratic enthusiasm,” Monmouth University pollster Patrick Murray said.

In Central Jersey’s 7th District, Democratic challenger Tom Malinowski raised $784,066 last period compared to Republican incumbent Leonard Lance’s $301,267. Malinowski has about $1.6 million in the bank to Lance’s $1.1 million.

And in North Jersey’s 11th District, where 24-year GOP incumbent Rodney Frelinghuysen is retiring, Democratic nominee Mikie Sherrill raised just over $1 million during the last period compared to $172,768 for state Assemblyman Jay Webber, the GOP nominee. Sherrill has $2.9 million on hand compared to Webber’s $171,720.

A Monmouth University poll in April found that Trump’s unpopularity in New Jersey could potentially endanger all of New Jersey’s Republican incumbents. So while political money typically flows from New Jersey to other states, much of it is staying here this year.

“There’s a lot of money to be had in this region. Usually New Jersey is the tap where the money goes out to other races,” Murray said. “But the fact that even third-tier races are generating a lot of enthusiasm among Democratic donors says a lot about the mood right now.“