Both campaigns outpaced their first quarter haul, but the incumbent maintains his significant cash on hand advantage in the race in the Philadelphia suburbs. 

In an exclusive to PoliticsPA, Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick’s (R-Bucks) campaign announced it raised $455,000 from the beginning of April to the end of June. The second quarter haul from the incumbent is a $20,000 improvement from the previous quarter, when he raised just under $435,000. He raised $525,000 in the final three months of 2019. 

The second term Republican in the Philadelphia suburbs has now raised over $2.8 million in the election cycle-to-date and entered July with over $1.8 million cash on hand. 

Christina Finello, an Ivyland Borough Councilwoman who cruised to the Democratic nomination over Skylar Hurwitz in the primary, had her strongest quarter since entering the race. 

According to a release from Finello’s campaign on Tuesday, she’s raised more than $310,000 from the beginning of April to the end of June. The second quarter haul is a significant improvement from the previous quarter when the Dem hopeful raised $90,000 from the beginning of January to the end of March. 

Finello’s campaign added that it raised over $200,000 in June alone. 

The release from the Finello campaign did not specify how much cash on hand that it brought into July, compared to the $80,000 it reported on May 13. 

Both campaigns pointed to their second quarter numbers as proof that momentum is in their favor in the purple suburban district. 

“Being ranked the #1 most bipartisan congressman in the entire nation with the highest score ever recorded in U.S. history, it isn’t surprising that both Congressman Fitzpatrick’s bipartisan fundraising numbers and his bipartisan endorsements dwarf the Finello campaign, who boasts virtually no endorsements and who is ‘celebrating’ a total cash on hand of a dismal roughly $300K in the expensive Philadelphia media market,” said Fitzpatrick spokeswoman Kate Constantini. “It’s one of many reasons why her campaign is peddling fake push-poll numbers in an attempt to become relevant. What’s worse, she wasted no time breaking her word and telling a colossal lie to our community that she would not accept corporate PAC money, because she has done just that. She has already lost all credibility.”  

“We are so humbled by the faith our supporters have placed in me and this campaign,” said Christina Finello in a release. “Our broad network of grassroots supporters shows the growing momentum of this race and that voters in Bucks and Montgomery Counties are ready for a change. Families around here want a Representative in Congress who tells it to them straight and always votes in their best interests.”

“Brian Fitzpatrick sides with Donald Trump when it matters most, whether on the pandemic response, tax cuts for the richest Americans, or affordable prescription drugs for Pennsylvania families,” Finello ends in her statement. 

Two Democratic backed polls were released in June that showed Finello within striking distance of Fitzpatrick. One poll commissioned by the Finello campaign from Public Policy Polling of likely voters from June 10-11 showed Fitzpatrick edging out Finello by 2 points, 40-to-38, with 21 percent undecided. The other poll commissioned by House Majority PAC from Victoria Research of registered voters between June 7-14 had Fitzpatrick leading Finello by 1 point, 45-to-44. 

Finello’s campaign website’s issues page says that she supports a “constitutional amendment to overturn the Citizens United ruling to end dark money’s influence on our elections,” although the release from Finello’s campaign about her Q2 haul said that she is “not accepting contributions from corporate political action committees.” 

The Fitzpatrick campaign did not specifically point to a specific corporate PAC donation that was received by the Finello campaign in the fundraising release.

Fitzpatrick is currently in his second term in Congress representing the Philadelphia suburban district. He bested pro-Trump Republican Andrew Meehan in the 2020 GOP primary by 27 points, which is a closer margin than his 34 point win over pro-Trump Republican Dean Malik in 2018.

Fitzpatrick’s 2018 bid for Congress against self-funded Democratic challenger Scott Wallace was the most expensive Congressional race in the state last cycle, and the 7th most expensive Congressional race in the country, according to Open Secrets. $18 million total was raised between both candidates. 

Several ratings outlets currently have the race as Leans Republican in the 1st Congressional District. 

Fitzpatrick is one of three Pennsylvania Republicans being targeted by the DCCC’s initial 2020 list, along with Reps. Mike Kelly (R-Butler) and Scott Perry (R-York).

This story was updated to note that the Fitzpatrick campaign did not specifically pinpoint a corporate PAC donation to the Finello campaign.