Auchincloss outraises fellow reps
Pressley and Moulton shell out for security
The newest member of the Massachusetts congressional delegation came up big in fundraising over the past three months, while others shelled out for security in the wake of the deadly U.S. Capitol riot.
U.S. Rep. Jake Auchincloss raked in $463,095, with 80% of his donors hailing from Massachusetts. The Newton Democrat finished the first quarter with $856,815 in the bank as he looks to scare off any potential challengers after his narrow primary victory last year left some Democrats dissatisfied.
“Congressman Auchincloss knows that Democrats will need to campaign hard in order to keep the House majority, and he will continue to fundraise effectively so that he can be a source of strength heading into the midterms,” spokesman Matt Corridoni said.
Auchincloss outpaced the rest of his House colleagues from Massachusetts during his first three months in D.C.: U.S. Rep. Lori Trahan hauled in $394,255; U.S. Rep.
Katherine Clark got $323,786; U.S. Rep. Richard Neal raised $256,861; U.S. Rep. Ayanna Pressley raised $217,381; U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton got $198,056; U.S. Rep. Jim McGovern got $94,981; U.S. Rep. Bill Keating got $72,628 and U.S. Rep. Stephen Lynch brought in $48,545.
On the Senate side, U.S. Sen. Edward Markey received $143,307 while U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren brought in $766,175.
Auchincloss, who’s been working to make a name for himself through a slew of media appearances and who just filed his first bill, can also dig into his war chest to help House colleagues who may face competitive races.
Lynch sent $1,000 each to U.S. Rep. Chris Pappas, D-N.H., U.S. Rep. Matt Cartwright, D-Pa., and U.S. Rep. Cindy Axne, D-Iowa. Neal transferred $100,000 to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.
Pressley and Moulton put thousands of dollars each toward personal protection, and are far from the only members of Congress on either side of the aisle to do so since the Capitol siege.
Pressley — who’s been open about death threats she’s faced during her congressional career and who has posted security payments in prior filings — paid nearly $4,200 for security services.
Moulton spent more than $3,400 on alarm installation and security systems, reports show.
A recent FEC rule change allows members of Congress to use campaign funds to hire bodyguards, building on a 2017 decision that lets politicians use campaign cash to upgrade their home security.
“The attack on the Capitol didn’t happen in a vacuum,” a congressional staffer said. “This is in response to pretty much persistent threats that lawmakers receive on a regular basis that have increased in the last year.”