Democrat takes in $135,000

Online donors key for 2nd District congressional hopeful

Boosted by online fundraising, Democratic congressional hopeful Paul Spencer collected more than $135,000 during the final quarter of 2017, he announced Tuesday.

The Scott resident, who teaches history and government at Little Rock Catholic High School, spent less than $11,000, leaving his campaign with nearly $127,000 in the bank as of Sunday.

He’ll need the money to be competitive in the 2nd Congressional District, which covers much of central Arkansas, including Pulaski County. Incumbent U.S. Rep. French Hill, a Republican from Little Rock, had a campaign war chest of nearly $1.2 million as of Sept. 30.

“We have a message that we’re trying to get out … and I think that message is resonating well with a lot of folks in this country and in the 2nd District,” Spencer said in an interview after the figures were released.

The infusion of money, he said, will help him secure his party’s nomination.

“This is going to enable us to run a very aggressive primary,” he added.

In order to advance to the general election, Spencer will have to defeat Gwendolynn Combs, a Stephens Elementary School gifted-and-talented specialist who is also seeking the nomination.

The field for the May 22 party primary also could grow between now and the March 1 deadline.

Officials with the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee have said they are targeting Hill for

defeat in this year’s election.

State Rep. Clarke Tucker of Little Rock is currently considering a run.

Neither Hill nor Combs have released their latest fundraising figures. Tucker and the Hill campaign declined to comment. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee did not respond to a request for comment.

The official campaign finance reports aren’t due to the Federal Election Commission until the end of the month.

Combs had raised just over $4,600 as of Sept. 30. She had cash on hand of about $3,700.

Tuesday, she declined to discuss the state of her campaign finances.

“I would be more comfortable talking about campaign finances after the year-end filing deadline on January 31,” Combs wrote in an email. “I can say that I am running a grassroots campaign organized and largely funded by Arkansans who are dedicated to addressing the issues of most concern to those who reside in the 2nd Congressional District. At this time, I haven’t received any contributions from [political action committees] or other special-interest groups. It’s my goal — during the campaign and if elected to office — to remain accountable to my constituents, rather than to wealthy donors and organizations.”

Spencer, who also eschews PAC contributions, raised most of his money online. Of the roughly $150,000 he’s raised since entering the race, more than $129,000 came from donors using ActBlue,

the Massachusetts-based online fundraising portal.

Thus far, more than 2,000 people from more than 30 states have made donations. The average contribution has been less than $60, the Spencer campaign said.

Hendrix College political science professor Jay Barth said online fundraising can be a game changer, in Arkansas and elsewhere.

ActBlue, which makes it easier for people to make online donations to Democratic causes, has collected and distributed nearly $2 billion since it began in 2004.

It played a key role in the campaign of Doug Jones, the Alabama Democrat elected to the U.S. Senate last month.

“Social media has transformed American politics in all kinds of ways and here’s one of those ways,” Barth said. “A candidate can really raise money very quickly, very quietly through this national network without a lot of enthusiasm at the local level.”

Spencer’s strong fundraising numbers — fueled by online giving — may cause Democrats to re-evaluate his candidacy, Barth said.

“I think there’s a perception that Tucker is the stronger candidate. This could begin to change that perception,” Barth added.