Upendra Chivukula, Deputy Speaker of the New Jersey General Assembly and Democratic nominee for Congress (NJ-07), announced today that his campaign raised $440,692 during April, May, and June of this year. 

“New Jersey Democrats are excited about Upendra Chivukula’s campaign. Democrats following congressional elections all over the country are starting to move this seat up the list. And, voters in the Seventh Congressional district are seeing that Upendra Chivukula is the right person to represent them in Congress,” said Somerset County Chair Peg Schaffer.

The Chivukula campaign reported $434,418.55 cash on hand at the time of the filing.  

Republican incumbent U.S. Rep. Leonard Lance (R-7) reported $385,281 cash on hand toward his re-election bid.

Despite strong fundraising totals, Democrats still see Chivukula as a longshot in a district that is more Republican post-redistricting than it was in 2008 when Lance defeated Democrat Linda Stender. 

In that election, Lance also reported to the general election season with diminished campaign coffers after a bloody primary.