It’s a tough time to fundraise, especially for non-incumbents. COVID19 totally prevented in-person events, even as the June 2 primary approaches and campaigns have to execute a vote-by-mail strategy for the first time in Pa. history. 

Here are the key takeaways from the last pre-primary congressional fundraising filings. 

PA1: Fitzpatrick Holds Large Cash Lead, Finello Has Cash Advantage in Dem Primary

Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Bucks) once again had the strongest filing report in the race for the Philadelphia suburban district, while one Democrat solidified her spot as the best funded candidate in her primary. 

Fitzpatrick’s campaign raised just over $70,000 from the beginning of April through May 13, while spending just under $70,000 during that time period. The incumbent Republican has now raised just under $2.45 million in the election cycle-to-date and has $1.68M cash on hand. 

Christina Finello, an Ivyland Borough Councilwoman who has been endorsed by the Bucks County Democratic Party, raised slightly under $45,000 from the beginning of April through May 13, while spending $35,000 during that time period. Finello has now raised just under $220,000 in the election cycle-to-date and has just over $80,000 cash on hand. 

Skylar Hurwitz, a technology entrepreneur and small business owner who has been endorsed by Our Revolution Pennsylvania, raised just over $1,000 from the beginning of April through May 13, while spending slightly over $2,500 during that time period. Hurwitz has raised just under $20,000 in the election cycle-to-date and has just over $1,500 cash on hand.

Andrew Meehan, a pro-Trump Republican and financial advisor, seemingly did not file a pre-primary FEC report. As of April 1, The April filing report, Meehan’s campaign has a cash deficit of $16,000.  

PA7: Browning Edges Out Scheller After Loan, Wild Holds Steady Lead

In the GOP race to face Rep. Susan Wild (D-Lehigh), Dean Browning, a former Lehigh County Commissioner and businessman, bested Lisa Scheller, a former Lehigh County Commissioner and businesswoman in the pre-primary FEC filing. 

Browning’s campaign raised $75,000 from the beginning of April through May 13, while spending just over $100,000 during that time period. However, $45,000 of the money raised during this filing was from a loan Browning gave to his campaign. Browning’s campaign has raised slightly over $405,000 in the election cycle-to-date, with $225,000 of it being from loans he provided to his campaign. He has just under $175,000 cash on hand. 

Scheller’s campaign raised just under $30,000 from the beginning of April through May 13, while spending just under $250,000 during that time period. Scheller’s campaign has raised $1.02 million in the election cycle-to-date, with $600,000 of it being from loans that she has provided to her campaign. Scheller has just under $275,000 cash on hand. 

Although Browning bested Scheller in this filing period, President Donald Trump issued his support for Scheller’s bid in a tweet on May 22, after this report was filed. 

Both GOP challengers significantly trail Wild in this filing period. 

Wild’s campaign raised just over $185,000 from the beginning of April through May 13, while spending just under $90,000 during that time period. She has now raised $2.2 million in the election cycle-to-date and has $1.5 million cash on hand. 

PA8: Daniels Leads GOP Field 

In the crowded Republican primary race for the 8th Congressional District, a new face emerges as the leading fundraiser for the last filing report before the June 2 primary. 

Teddy Daniels, a former police officer and wounded combat Army veteran, raised just under $60,000 from the beginning of April through May 13, while spending just over $50,000 during that time period. Daniels has now raised just over $210,000 in the election cycle-to-date, with $35,000 of it being from a loan he gave to his campaign. He has slightly under $30,000 in cash on hand. 

The next closest Republican in this filing period is Earl Granville, a decorated war veteran and Veterans’ advocate who has been endorsed by House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA). Granville’s campaign raised just over $50,000 from the beginning of April through May 13, while spending just under $95,000 during that time period. $6,000 of the money raised in this time period was from a loan he provided to his campaign. Granville’s campaign has now raised just under $170,000 in the election cycle-to-date, with $36,000 of it being from loans he has provided to his campaign. Granville has $30,000 cash on hand. 

Jim Bognet, a former Trump administration appointee, raised just over $35,000 from the beginning of April through May 13, while spending just under $105,000 during that time period. Bognet also loaned his campaign $12,500 during this time period, which is a part of the $35,000 raised in this filing report. Bognet’s campaign has now raised just over $310,000 in the election cycle-to-date, with $12,500 of it being from a loan he gave to his campaign. Bognet has just over $175,000 cash on hand, which is the second highest for the Republican candidates in the race. 

Former Hazleton Mayor Mike Marsicano, Mike Cammisa, and Luzerne County Councilman Harry Haas all raised less than $1,000 in this filing period. Although none of these candidates surpassed $1,000 raised in the most recent filing period, Marsicano leads all of the GOP hopefuls in cash on hand and money raised during the campaign. Marsicano has loaned his campaign just over $350,000 in the election cycle-to-date and has $255,000 cash on hand. 

Rep. Matt Cartwright (D-Lackawanna) maintains his strong fundraising advantage in the race. Cartwright’s campaign raised just under $120,000 from the beginning of April through May 13, while spending just under $65,000 during that time period. Cartwright’s campaign has now raised $2.08 million in the election cycle-to-date and has $1.9 million cash on hand.

PA10: DePasquale Edges Out Brier, Both Lead Perry

Eugene DePasquale, the state’s Democratic Auditor General, raised just over $130,000 from the beginning of April through May 13, while spending $85,000 during this time period. His campaign has now raised $1.1 million in the election cycle-to-date and has just under $705,000 cash on hand. 

Tom Brier, an attorney and author who is also seeking the Democratic Party nomination, raised just under $125,000 from the beginning of April through May 13. During this time period, he also loaned his campaign $18,000, which is included in the $125,000 raised in this report. Brier significantly outspent DePasquale in this specific filing period by spending just under $195,000 from the beginning of April through May 13. Brier has raised just over $590,000 in the election cycle-to-date and has just over $70,000 cash on hand. 

Rep. Scott Perry (R-York) raised just over $110,000 from the beginning of April through May 13, while spending just under $205,000 during that time period. Perry’s campaign has now raised $1.5 million in the election cycle-to-date and has just under $725,000 cash on hand. 

PA18: Doyle Spends Nearly $200K to Fend Off Challenger

Rep. Mike Doyle (D-Allegheny) spent nearly five times the amount his Democratic primary challenger spent during the last filing period before the June 2 primary. 

Doyle’s campaign spent just under $195,000 from the beginning of April through May 13, while Jerry Dickinson, a law professor at the University of Pittsburgh, spent slightly under $40,000 during that time period. 

Doyle and Dickinson both raised $21,000 in this most recent filing report, although the incumbent has raised a significant amount more during the election cycle-to-date than his challenger. Doyle’s campaign raised just over $645,000 in the election cycle-to-date, while Dickinson raised just over $235,000 since declaring his candidacy for the seat. 

Doyle has just under $220,000 cash on hand, while Dickinson has just over $25,000.