The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Campaign-finance reports reveal strengths and weaknesses for incumbents, challengers
The campaign trail ahead for Cobb County Commissioner Jerica Richardson is a steep one in her bid for the U.S. House.
Her opponent in the 6th Congressional District’s Democratic primary, U.S. Rep. Lucy McBath, carries a significant edge in name recognition.
Advertising offers a way to combat that, but McBath also holds a huge advantage in fundraising.
The Marietta congresswoman, who is seeking the seat after she was drawn out of her district for the second time in two years, has $1 million stashed in her campaign war chest.
Richardson’s campaign-finance report shows she has $3,515.35 in her account, along with $3,000 in debt. Campaign finance reports also show: ■ U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock, more than a year after he defeated Republican Herschel Walker, has stockpiled $5.2 million, even though he is not up for election again until 2028.
■ Democratic U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff, who could face Gov. Brian Kemp when he runs for reelection in 2026, has about $3.2 million in cash on hand.
■ Lt. Gov. Burt Jones, a potential GOP candidate for governor in 2026, has collected more than $1.8 million since winning election to Georgia’s No. 2 job in 2022. Jones took in money through his campaign and his leadership committee, a fundraising mechanism that the GOP-led General Assembly created in 2021 to allow certain officials, candidates and groups to raise and spend unlimited amounts of cash, even while the Legislature is in session.
■ U.S. Rep. Rich McCormick has about $390,000 in his account. The first-term Republican from Suwanee is now, after redistricting, in a safe district for Republicans, but the GOP primary is potentially a problem for him. McCormick could draw a Donald Trumpbacked challenger after he initially endorsed Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis over the former president in this year’s run for the White House.