As the balance of congressional power sits at a near-even split, House candidates campaigning in key New York districts received millions in donations between April and the end of June.
The GOP’s slim majority of 218–214 in the House is at stake in November’s general election.
In Congressional District 1, consisting largely of Suffolk County, former CNN anchor John Avlon won the Democrat primary on June 25 and is competing against Republican incumbent Rep. Nick LaLota.
According to quarterly reports filed with the Federal Election Committee (FEC) on July 15, Mr. Avlon has $596,561 in cash on hand compared with Mr. LaLota, who has a substantial financial advantage with $2,194,541.68.
New York State Democratic Chair Jay Jacobs blames the cost of efforts to win Mr. Avlon’s primary to explain why there’s much less cash on hand.
“It’s only going to concern me if Nick LaLota is leading in votes,” Mr. Jacobs told The Epoch Times. “We’re going to be fine because now John Avlon is raising money and building up his coffers again. People are making contributions and are excited about his campaign.”
Mr. Avlon has so far raised $2,281,680.87 compared with Mr. LaLota’s $2,974,261.48.
Congressional District 1 is considered a swing seat.
Mr. LaLota told The Epoch Times in an email that his campaign is leveraging its cash advantage early by spending more than $100,000 per week on TV, digital, and mail campaigns to build a strong foundation.
“This is essential to withstand the post-Labor Day campaign of misinformation we anticipate from CNN host John Avlon, his Manhattan allies, and their billionaire supporters,” Mr. LaLota said.
“We have great momentum and are prepared to earn the vote of Long Islanders once again this fall.”
Mr. Avlon did not respond to requests for comment.
Democrat Josh Riley, a native of New York, is leading financially in the 19th Congressional District with $4,001,183.14 in cash on hand compared to incumbent Republican Rep. Marcus Molinaro’s $2,260,324.76.
The 19th District encompasses Hudson Valley, the Catskills, all of Broome County, and parts of Otsego and Ulster.
“The Broome Republicans have endorsed Rep. Molinaro’s reelection and are building an army of grassroots volunteers and small donors to deliver Marc a resounding victory in November,” Benji Federman, chairman of the Broome County Republican Committee in Binghamton, told The Epoch Times.
Mr. Riley, a Harvard-educated crisis management attorney and former general counsel to Minnesota Sen. Al Franken, raised $5,273,860.88 compared with Mr. Molinaro’s $3,644,171.72.
Mr. Molinaro’s campaign manager, Matt Organ, said Mr. Riley’s connections as a DC insider are concerning.
“Those are big problems in the minds of voters, and it’s why he’s down 9 points in the polls. Money won’t change that,” Mr. Organ told The Epoch Times in an email.
Mr. Riley did not respond to requests for comment.
Mr. Jacobs suggested voters focus on Mr. Molinaro’s voting.
“We’re also going to let the voters decide. Is Molinaro someone who represents your district? Here’s what he voted for, and here’s what he voted against. Plain and simple,” he said.
The Nassau County GOP tapped Mike LiPetri to challenge CD-3 incumbent Democrat Rep. Tom Suozzi, who flipped the seat formerly held by ousted Rep. George Santos (R-N.Y.) after defeating Republican Mazi Philip in a special Feb. 13 election.
Although Mr. LiPetri’s cash on hand of $212,790.97 pales in comparison to Mr. Suozzi’s $1,706,974.89, the former New York state assemblyman has received $355,502.32 in contributions in his first quarter of fundraising. Mr. Suozzi has received $7,815,411.62 in contributions.
“The money we’ve spent thus far has been on pushing out our narrative and our position as authentic, honest leadership that will create safe, affordable communities, promote incentivizing law-abiding citizens and working families to help with parental rights and women’s rights,” Mr. LiPetri told The Epoch Times.
Mr. Suozzi did not reply to requests for comment.
FEC data shows that in the 17th District encompassing Rockland County, Republican incumbent Mike Lawler holds a slight fundraising edge over Democrat candidate Mondaire Jones, with $5,736,579.61. Mr. Jones has received $5,540,543.21 in contributions to date.
But Mr. Jones, who did not respond to requests for comment, is leading financially with $4,312,536.71 in cash on hand compared with Mr. Lawler’s $3,930,455.81. Mr. Jones is a former congressman who previously represented District 17.
Despite the financial edge, Vince Casale, a New York political consultant, doesn’t believe Mr. Jones will win.
“Michael Lawler has done a good job of making himself not just known but connected in his district,” Mr. Casale told The Epoch Times.
“I think the people know he’s somebody who shares their values regardless if they’re Republican or Democrat. He’s done a good job of crossing over and reaching out to specific demographics within that district.”
Flush with $2,518,691.59 in cash on hand in the 4th Congressional District, Democrat Laura Gillen is also leading financially over incumbent Republican Congressman Anthony D'Esposito, who has $2,171,543.65 cash on hand.
Neither Ms. Gillen nor Mr. D’Esposito responded to requests for comment.
“These early financial numbers are good,” Mr. Jacobs said. “I'd rather be ahead than behind, but I wouldn’t rest on my laurels. She has to keep fundraising.”
Although Republican Brandon Williams is leading in Congressional District 22, covering Central New York with $1.3 million in cash on hand, he isn’t necessarily a shoo-in due to redistricting, which has pushed the Syracuse-centered seat into a more heavily Democrat area.
“It makes for an interesting dynamic for November in that most people would say the incumbent Brandon Williams is in a bit of trouble,” Mr. Casale added.
His opponent, Democrat John Mannion, a New York State Senator representing District 50, won the June 25 primary and has $340,530.93 in cash on hand. Neither Mr. Mannion nor Mr. Williams responded to requests for comment.
