Senate GOP candidates fail in fundraising
3 Min Read
Top Republican Senate candidates failed to raise enough money in important contests ranging from Arizona to New Hampshire.
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Senate GOP fundraising flop.
Top Republican Senate candidates raised little money in important contests ranging from Arizona to New Hampshire.
It's as though major Republican donors are either unaware that a Senate majority is possible or assume it's a given conclusion. And it's clear that they dislike many of Trump's nominees. On the other hand, Democratic Senate candidates are posting blockbuster hauls.
Republicans may be riding a tidal wave of displeasure with the country (75 percent are off track, according to Real Clear Politics), and their President Joe Biden (39 percent approval).
What's the story?
In Arizona, the leading Republican contender, Blake Masters, raised only $827,000 ($1.58 million cash on hand) in the quarter, compared to $13.6 million ($24.9 million cash on hand) for the Democratic incumbent Sen. Mark Kelly.
Another GOP candidate, Jim Lamon, brought in $1.2 million ($1 million of his own).
Another unimpressive fundraising total from a major Republican Senate contender in Pennsylvania: Dr. Oz raised $1.6 million in the latest fundraising report, and put in $2.2 million of his own money, finishing June with $1.1 million cash on hand. Democrat John Fetterman raised $10 million ($5.5 million on hand) despite his absence from the campaign due to a stroke.
In New Hampshire, Sen. Maggie Hassan (D) raised $5.07 million, compared to $538,000 for her leading Republican opponent, state Senate President Chuck Morse.
Cash pours in
It is worth mentioning that millionaire candidates and billionaire investors are pooling their resources to compete for vacant US Senate seats in Ohio and Pennsylvania.
Mike Gibbons, an Ohio investment banker, has contributed over $17 million to his own campaign.
Three other wealthy candidates in the Ohio race have lent or contributed a total of $14 million to their campaigns: state Sen. Matt Dolan, whose family owns the Cleveland Guardians baseball team; former Ohio Republican Chair Jane Timken, whose husband's family founded the steel giant Timken Co.; and "Hillbilly Elegy" author JD Vance.
In Pennsylvania, Mehmet Oz, a heart surgeon with a TV show, former hedge fund CEO David McCormick, and former real estate investment company CEO Carla Sands have all contributed more than $20 million to their respective campaigns.
