Democrat Flynn has most cash on hand
A Greene County resident who is among eight Democrats seeking to unseat Republican U.S. Rep. John Faso in the 2018 election has raised more for his campaign this year than the incumbent or any of the other Democrats, thanks in large part to a $500,000 loan from himself.
According to Federal Election Commission filings, Brian Flynn of Elka Park had raised $753,613.66 as of June 30. Of that, half a million dollars was in the form of a loan from the candidate.
“John Faso has voted with [President Donald] Trump over 90 percent of the time, so we
know he’ll have the entire Trump machine behind him,” Flynn said in a prepared statement. “Listening to families across the [New York 19th Congressional] District, it is clear that we need to make significant changes in how this district is represented ... I’ve run successful small businesses, and I’m not afraid to spend some of my own money to make sure that working families from this area finally have a voice in Congress.”
Carolyn Riggs, Flynn’s spokeswoman, said Tuesday that Flynn has indicated there is no limit to how much money he will loan to his campaign. There also is no expectation on repayment, she said.
Of the money Flynn’s campaign raised, $37,647.03 was spent, leaving him with $715,966.63 in cash on hand at the end of the second quarter, according to the Federal Election Commission filings.
Flynn’s campaign said he had added 361 new small donors in the second quarter, with a median contribution of $50 per individual.
Fellow Democrat Antonio Delgado of Rhinebeck also has raised more money than Faso so far this year, according to the Federal Election Commission. The filings show Delgado had raised $651,653.11 as of June 30. Of that, $61,333.81 went toward expenses, leaving the candidate $590,319.30 in cash on hand.
“As I travel throughout the Hudson Valley and Catskill region, its clear to me that people are responding to our message about growing the American Dream,” Delgado said in a prepared statement. “Every day I hear stories that parallel my own: Through good jobs at General Electric, the kind that used to be available, my parents worked hard to bring our family into the middle class . ... We are going to work together to ensure that our region is a place where families can stay, count on good jobs, get a quality education and count on affordable and accessible health care.”
Faso, R-Kinderhook, has raised $613,201.74 so far this year and spent $220,755.65, according to the Federal Election Commission. That leaves the first-term congressman with $495,875.08 in cash on hand.
A request for comment from Faso’s campaign was referred to National Republican Congressional Committee spokesman Chris Martin.
“The fractured Democratic Party has yet to present a coherent message, and their crowded primary field in NY-19 will inevitably produce a far-left candidate,” Martin said in an email Tuesday. “Congressman Faso will run on a strong record of accomplishment with the resources needed to win.”
Eight Democrats have said they will challenge Faso in the November 2018 election, or are considering doing so. The Federal Election Commission filings show:
• Patrick Ryan, a Kingston native who currently lives in Brooklyn, raised $213,291.60 between April 1 and June 30. Of that, he spent $7,874.67, leaving him with $205,416.93 cash on hand.
• Gareth Rhodes of Kerhonkson raised $134,962.78 between April 1 and June 30. He spent $9,704.02, leaving him with $125,258.76 cash on hand. An email from Rhodes’ campaign said he raised the money in just seven weeks, receiving nearly 700 contributions that show a broad base of grassroots support. Nearly 500 of the contributions were $100 or less, the email stated.
• Sue Sullivan of Plattekill raised $54,519.77 between May 17 and June 30. Of that, $14,634.76 was spent, leaving her with $39,882.24 in cash on hand.
• Steven Brisee of Walden raised $6,494.25 between April 1 and June 30. He spent $5,884.92, leaving him with $1,093.01 cash on hand.
Jeffrey Beals and David Clegg, both of Woodstock, did not have reports on file with the Federal Election Commission as of Tuesday.
The 19th Congressional District comprises all of Ulster, Greene, Columbia, Sullivan, Delaware, Schoharie and Otsego counties; most of Dutchess County; parts of Rensselaer and Montgomery counties; and a small piece of Broome County.