It was the closest fundraising haul to-date between the two candidates for the 1st Congressional District, but Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Bucks) narrowly outraised Democrat Christina Finello in the FEC third quarter report.
Fitzpatrick raised just under $945,000 from the beginning of July to the end of September, while spending $1.38 million during this time period. His third quarter haul is a significant improvement from the second quarter of 2020 when his campaign raised just under $490,000.
Fitzpatrick’s campaign has now raised $3.78 million in the election cycle-to-date and entered October with $1.38 million cash on hand.
Finello raised just under $940,000 from the beginning of July to the end of September, while spending nearly $680,000 during this time period. Her third quarter haul is three times more than the amount she raised in the second quarter when her campaign raised just over $290,000.
Finello has now raised $1.45 million in the election cycle-to-date and entered October with $555,000 cash on hand.
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 PA1 race as Leans Republican.
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).
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5 Responses
Fitzpatrick will cruise to victory.
Fitzpatrick by 7 points.
Finello doesn’t have the ground game and failed to diminsh Fitzpatrick’s likeability.
I live in this district, and Fitzpatrick signs dwarf Finello signs. Fitzpatrick has strong name recognition, whereas his opponent is just a generic moderate with a really weak campaign.
All of the comments make a good point but let’s get to the bottom line—Finello has to win in 2020 or else they may as well agree to make Fitzpatrick Congressman for life. If the Dems cannot beat Brian Fitzpatrick in the Philadelphia suburbs of Bucks County who has voted 84% of the time with Donald Trump who is politically toxic to suburban voters then the Dems may as well quit fielding candidates from this point forward. You literally will never ever get a better time to take down Fitzpatrick than now. I do agree Fitzpatrick will be defeated by Finello, who is a great candidate by the way, and it will be small margin.
What was interesting is if you look at the breakdown in the funds raised categories. Finello actually raised MORE than incumbent Fitzpatrick in contributions! Finello pulled in $938K in CONTRIBUTIONS to Fitz’s $914K. Where Fitzpatrick gained was in in-kind contributions and the like, for an additional $30K to his Total Receipts reported of $944K. Finello only had $400 difference between her contributions and her total receipts tallies.
Some of the in-kind to Fitzpatrick came from his lucrative connections to the Pat Deon family, who are deep in both PAGOP and BucksCounty politics. Fitzpatrick, on the House Transportation committee, works with Pat Deon who is possibly the most influential person on the SEPTA board. Deon pulls a lot of strings to help Fitzpatrick, for a mutually beneficial relationship.
Finello will win by a trickle of the Blue Wave sweeping America.