Democrats outraising Republicans in House races
Democratic candidates vying to capture two U.S. House regional seats in November are far outpacing GOP opponents in campaign fundraising, according to the most recent filings with the Federal Election Commission.
The campaigns of U.S. Rep. Pat Ryan in the 18th Congressional District and Josh Riley in the 19th have amassed significantly more cash than their Republican opponents, the latest filings show.
Riley, of Ithaca, is running for the 19th Congressional District seat against incumbent Marc Molinaro, R-Catskill.
Molinaro, who is a former Dutchess County executive, defeated Riley for the seat in 2021.
The FEC filing, dated March 31, shows Riley with $2,508,262.55 cash on hand. Based on figures reported by the FEC, Riley has raised $1,354,911.23 between Jan. 1 and March 31 and has spent $315,155.61 during that period.
For the whole campaign for the upcoming election, between Jan. 1, 2023, and March 31 of this year, the campaign has raised $3,412,292.23 and spent $921,056.21.
Molinaro’s campaign coffer has $1,767,263.99 cash on hand, according to the FEC filing, or $740,998.56 less than Riley.
Between Jan. 1 and March 31, Molinaro raised $536,928.09, or $817,983.28 less than what Riley garnered in that same period, based on figures by the FEC.
For the same period, Molinaro’s campaign has spent $388,581.05, based on the FEC filing figures.
For the whole campaign, from Jan. 1, 2023, to March 31, the congressman has raised $2,733,437.09 and spent $1,028,188.05, the FEC filing shows.
Meanwhile, the campaigns took jabs at each other in connection with the filings.
In a statement, Riley said that his significantly higher campaign contributions were a testament to support for his candidacy.
“I am honored by the outpouring of grassroots support our campaign has received,” Riley said. “Upstate New Yorkers are tired of career politicians selling us out to the utility companies who jack up our rates, the pharmaceutical companies who put profits over patients, and the far-right fringes in Washington who, like Marc Molinaro, have pushed a nationwide abortion ban that restricts care for women here in New York. I am not accepting a penny of corporate PAC money, and my vote will never be for sale.”
In a statement, Molinaro’s campaign said Riley was not being truthful.
“Insider Josh Riley keeps lying about where his campaign contributions are coming from,” the campaign statement said. “According to his latest filing with the FEC, Riley’s campaign is being propped up by DC Insiders, dark money PACs, and… Al Franken.” Franken resigned his U.S. Senate in 2017 seat amid sexual misconduct charges.
“Despite all of this, DC Insider Josh Riley continues to lie and say his millions are from ‘grassroots’ supporters.”
“Josh Riley is a millionaire DC Insider who is relying on special interests and big money friends to buy a congressional seat in Upstate New York,” said Matt Organ, Molinaro’s campaign manager.
The Riley campaign responded by saying Molinaro’s campaign is not being truthful.
“Josh Riley has never taken a penny from corporate PACs, and he never will, because his vote isn’t for sale,” said Daniel Fleiss, Riley’s campaign manager. “Career politician Marc Molinaro has spent 30 years raising hundreds of thousands of dollars from the special interests buying his votes, and he’s still getting outraised by Josh’s grassroots team.”
In Ulster County, the upcoming 19th Congressional District will comprise Rosendale, Marbletown, the town of Rochester, Shawangunk, part of Gardiner, Wawarsing, Hurley, Olive, Shandaken, Hardenburgh and Denning. The 19th district also includes all of Columbia and Greene counties, most of Rensselaer County, and all of Otsego County, Delaware, Sullivan, Broome, Tompkins and Chenango counties.
18th Congressional District
Ryan, D-Gardiner, has also significantly outpaced his Republican opponent Alison Esposito of Goshen, in a race for the 18th Congressional District seat.
Ryan, who was elected to that position in 2022, has $2,768,926.33 cash on hand, according to the FEC.
Between Jan. 1 and March 31, Ryan’s campaign has raised $909,448.21, based on the FEC filings.
For the entire campaign, from Jan. 1, 2023, to March 31, 2024, Ryan has raised $4,056,476.21 and spent $1,323,260.43.
Esposito, a retired New York City police officer, has garnered a current cash supply of $437,127.44, or $2,351,798.89 less than what Ryan has on hand.
Between Jan. 1 and March 31, Esposito’s campaign raised $437,127.44, or $472,320.56 less than Ryan.
The Republican spent $186,213.26, based on the FEC filings.
Esposito launched her campaign in October. She has raised $675,441.37 and spent $238,313.93 for the entire campaign, the filing shows.
Esposito is also facing a Republican primary challenge from Lovelynn Gwinn, a New York City realtor.
According to the FEC filing, Gwinn has a war chest containing $1,687.54 cash on hand. She has raised $13,220.00 between Jan. 1 and March 31 and spent $16,325.46 during that same period, based on the FEC filings. For the entire campaign, Gwinn raised $27,253 and spent $25,565.46, the filing shows.
In Ulster County, the new 18th Congressional District will now include the towns of Ulster and Kingston, Saugerties and Woodstock. The district also includes part of Gardiner, Plattekill, Marlborough, Lloyd, New Paltz, Esopus, and the city of Kingston, all of Orange County and most of Dutchess County.