Michael Grimm
The top fundraisers in congressional races across New York
Candidates in potentially competitive primaries and general elections are raking in donations.
Like squirrels stockpiling nuts for the winter, Congressional incumbents and challengers alike gathered campaign contributions at the end of 2017 in anticipation of the looming Election Day in 2018. The Federal Elections Commission recently published the campaign filing reports for the final quarter of 2017, from Oct. 1 to Dec. 31, revealing the financial outlook for candidates across the country.
Here are the five members of Congress from New York and the five challengers that raised the most money during the final quarter. This list only includes candidates that have registered with the FEC and filed a financial report as of Jan. 31, 2018.
INCUMBENTS:
Total receipts – $661,849.05
Cash on hand – $1,380,723.89
Crowley, the chairman of the House Democratic Caucus, had the best fundraising quarter of any incumbent New York representative. His only listed challenger, Democrat Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, raised almost $21,000 this quarter.
Total receipts – $426,556.27
Cash on hand – $1,280,945.66
Zeldin, a sophomore Republican congressman, is facing several Democratic challengers, including Perry Gershon, who made the list for highest-fundraising non-incumbent candidates.
Total receipts – $410,952.69
Cash on hand – $2,980,403.71
While Democrat Maloney is facing a few challengers, including the recently declared Orange County Legislator James O’Donnell, he received significant funds in the final quarter.
Total receipts – $379,410.00
Cash on hand – $718,766.55
The Staten Island Republican is fending off a primary challenge from former Rep. Michael Grimm, who is seeking to reclaim the seat he resigned after pleading guilty to federal tax evasion. But Grimm only raised $176,139.90 in the final quarter, and it’s Democratic challenger Max Rose’s numbers that Donovan may be worried about.
Total receipts – $377,061.84
Cash on hand – $1,025,034.16
The moderate Republican has made a name for himself as a champion of the Republican tax plan, and while he faces several Democratic opponents, none were able to match his fourth-quarter fundraising. Democrat Linda Andrei came closest by raising just over $130,000.
CHALLENGERS:
Total receipts – $549,632.77
Cash on hand – $450,726.59
Patel, president of an Indiana-based hospitality company, is challenging Rep. Carolyn Maloney in the Democratic primary. Although Maloney only raised around $130,000 in the final quarter, she still outmatches Patel in cash on hand with over $640,000.
Total receipts – $503,278.88
Cash on hand – $812,350.47
Gershon, a businessman and recent resident of New York’s first district, raised a large sum in the final quarter. However, his status as a district outsider may not be to his favor, regardless of fundraising.
Total receipts – $427,437.19
Cash on hand – $1,189,123.60
Delgado, a Rhodes scholar and Harvard Law alum, is one of many Democrats challenging freshman Rep. John Faso, who is considered vulnerable, and who raised just over $300,000 in the final quarter.
Total receipts – $333,353.43
Cash on hand – $492,586.63
Rose, a veteran of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars who is being supported by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, is squeezing Donovan from the left while Grimm challenges him on the right.
Total receipts – $317,208.89
Cash on hand – $713,668.38
Ryan, a military veteran and small business owner, joins Delgado in the crowd of Democrats challenging Faso. Both Ryan and Delgado outraised Faso in the quarter.
With reporting by Ben Jay
Correction: An earlier version of this post included Holly Lynch as one of the challengers with the highest fundraising totals. However, she has updated her status with the FEC as a 2020 candidate for the seat now held by Rep. Jerry Nadler. In addition, the bulk of her total receipts was a $500,000 loan to herself, and she has reimbursed herself for much of it.