Most House challengers can't raise money

Rep. Christopher Smith (R-Hamilton) isn’t taking his bid for a 15th term for granted, raising $143,300 over the last three months and now has $503,944 cash on hand.  His Democratic challenger, history professor Josh Zeitz, raised $108,101 during the same period.  Zeitz has raised $259,267 so far and has $124,535 in the bank.

Statewide, Zeitz ranks second in challenger fundraising.  Dennis Shulman, a blind Rabbi and psychologist running against Rep. Scott Garrett (R-Wantage) raised $270,000 last quarter, according to his campaign.  He has raised $585,000 so far, with $258,000 cash on hand.

Most New Jersey challengers are faring poorly in the fundraising game.

In District 2, Democrat David Kurkowski has taken on the challenge of running against Frank LoBiondo (R-Millville), the Republican with the biggest war chest in the state.  Democrats thought they could make the race competitive if State Sen. Jeff Van Drew decided to run, but he declined. 

Kurkowski raised a total of $107,231 since kicking off his campaign, and has $89,773 on hand.  LoBiondo, meanwhile, raised $205,422 during the second quarter and has $1.49 million on hand. 

In District 1, Camille Andrews raised a total of $72,240, and spent the majority of it, despite being a placeholder candidate while South Jersey Democrats mull a replacement for her husband, Rep. Rob Andrews.   The bulk of the money went to campaign flyers, one staffer and political consultants.  She has $15,611 on hand.

Her opponent, Dale Glading, raised about $5,000 in the second quarter and has just $426 on hand, according to the Gloucester County Times.  He put out a press release today questioning why Andrews was spending a significant amount of money without actually campaigning in the district.

“She has refused to appear before the voters, and yet somehow she has managed to spend almost as much on consultants – in three months – as the median household in our district earns in an entire year,” said Glading Campaign Manager Tim Saler. 

In the 6th District, Rep. Frank Pallone (D-Long Branch) continues to have the largest amount of cash of any conressman, with $3.38 million on hand.  No report is available for his Republican opponent, former judge Robert McLeod. 

In the eighth district, Rep. Bill Pascrell (D-Paterson) has $1.17 million.  No report is available for his challenger, Roland Straten, a Montclair business executive.

Rep. Steve Rothman (D-Fair Lawn) has about $1.9 million, while his challenger, Republican Vince Micco, has just short of $2,000. 

In District 10, Rep. Donald Payne has $1.05 million and no challenger to spend it against. 

District 11 Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen (R-Morristown) has $717,893, while challenger Tom Wyka has $15,540 on hand. 

Rep. Rush Holt (D-Hopewell Township) holds the relatively modest sum of $759,546 in the 12th district.  His Republican opponent, Alan Bateman, has no report available online.

The most cash poor Congressman in the delegation is Rep. Albio Sires, who has $222,803 on hand.  He’s challenged by Republican Joseph Turula, who has no report available online.