His 2020 bid for Congress didn’t go as planned, but he’s starting off his 2022 challenge with a strong fundraising quarter. 

Jerry Dickinson, a law professor at the University of Pittsburgh raised just over $210,000 in his first quarter as a 2022 candidate. He is seeking a rematch with Rep. Mike Doyle, who beat him by 34 points in the 2020 primary. 

Dickinson’s campaign spent nearly $110,000 since declaring his candidacy in April to the end of June and entered July with just over $100,000 cash on hand. 

Doyle raised just under $60,000 from the beginning of April to the end of June. He’s now raised just over $80,000 in the election cycle-to-date. Doyle’s campaign spent only $35,000 during Q2, although he maintains a significant cash advantage. Doyle entered July with just under $260,000 cash on hand. 

At this point in Doyle’s previous reelection bid, he raised nearly $190,000 in the election cycle-to-date and held just under $330,000 cash on hand. 

The disparity was enough for POLITICO reporter Ally Mutnick to remark that it might be time to put Doyle on “retirement watch.” A spokesperson for Doyle said in April that he intends to seek re-election in 2022.

During Dickinson’s 2020 bid for Congress, he never outraised Doyle for an entire quarter. 

Dickinson’s strongest quarter during his 2020 campaign was when he raised $105,000 from the beginning of April to the end of June in 2019. It was the first time Doyle had faced a primary challenger who raised over $100,000 in an election cycle, let alone one quarter. 

However, Doyle still outraised him that quarter by bringing in just under $130,000 from the beginning of April to the end of June in 2019. 

Doyle significantly outraised Dickinson the rest of the campaign. 

Doyle raised just under $210,000 in 2019’s Q3, just over $115,000 in 2019’s Q4, and $110,000 in 2020’s Q1. 

Dickinson raised just over $20,000 in 2019’s Q3, slightly under $45,000 in 2019’s Q4, and nearly $50,000 in 2020’s Q1. 

In the 2020 pre-primary filing, Doyle and Dickinson both raised $21,000, however Doyle’s campaign spent just under $195,000 from the beginning of April through May 13, while Dickinson spent slightly under $40,000 during that time period.

Doyle, who has represented the area since 1995, has faced primary challengers in the past five elections. He is the longest-tenured member of Pennsylvania’s congressional delegation (elected in 1994). The next-most senior member is Rep. GT Thompson (R-Centre), elected in 2008. 

Prior to defeating Dickinson by 34 points in 2020, he bested Janis Brooks in the four previous Democratic primary contests by comfortable margins each time. Doyle defeated Republican Luke Negron by 38 points in the 2020 election to secure a 14th term in Congress. While Doyle won by 38 points in 2020 over his GOP challenger, Joe Biden bested Donald Trump by 30 points in the 18th Congressional District, according to Daily Kos.

However, Pennsylvania is slated to lose a seat after redistricting, making it difficult for any challenger and incumbent to accurately size up their 2022 prospects.