The Middletown Press (Middletown, CT)
Incumbent Democrats have cash advantage, FEC filings reveal
Many state GOP candidates struggle to raise funds
Incumbent congressional Democrats in Connecticut have major cash advantages over their Republican challengers, with only George Logan, a former state senator who narrowly lost to 5th District U.S. Rep. Jahana Hayes in 2022, in current possession of a competitive war chest as he tries again to unseat the third-term congresswoman in November.
Still, according to the latest finance filings with the Federal Election Commission, Hayes had more than $1.4 million on hand at the end of March — nearly twice as much money as Logan, an Aquarion executive who reported about $740,000 on hand for the first quarter. Another Republican hopeful for the nomination, Michelle Botelho of Danbury reported $7,410.
Logan reported nearly $185,000 in contributions from 57 out-of-state political action committees, plus about $684,000 in individual contributions. Hayes, a former National Teacher of the Year who won reelection in 2022 with 127,838 votes to Logan’s 125,834, reaped about $525,000 in contributions from more than 200 mostly out-of-state political action committees. She also reported more than $1 million in individual contributions for her campaign to continue representing the state’s 41-town northwestern district.
The 2022 contest between Hayes and Logan attracted national interest, including a visit from Vice President Kamala
Harris for Hayes, and Republican members of Congress for Logan. Speaker of the House Mike Johnson of Louisiana recently held a fundraising event for Logan. The University of Virgina’s Center for Politics has at this point analyzed the race as “leaning Democratic.”
In other congressional races, U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy has amassed $9 million in his campaign for a third six-year term, with Republican challenger Gerard Smith, the first selectman of Beacon Falls, reporting $26,096.52. Two other Republican hopefuls, Robert F. Hyde of Simsbury, reported having $28.85, while John J. Flynn of Norwalk reported no cash on hand.
U.S. Rep. John Lason, D-1st District, seeking a fourteenth two-year term, reported $328,899 on hand, compared to Republican James L. Griffin’s $1,363. Two other hopefuls, conservative Nicholas Symochko and Republican Mark Hancock,
reported having no money.
Second District Rep. Joe Courtney, whose district encompases much of
the eastern section of the state and was first elected in 2006, has $561,063 in his war chest, while Republican Mike France, a former
state representative, reported $102,969. This race will also be a rematch of 2022, when Courtney won with 165,946 votes to
France’s 114,506. Third District U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro, who was first elected to the seat in 1990, has $251,683 on hand.
Her Republican challengers include Rafael Irizarry of Stratford and Michael Massey of New Haven, neither of whom reported have any cash on hand for the election. Another New Haven Democrat Lsaiah Lee, also reported no money on hand, according to the FEC.
In the 4th Congressional District of southwestern Connecticut, U.S. Rep. Jim Himes, who was first elected in 2008, reported $2 million on hand for his reelection campaign. His challengers include Republicans Robert MacGuffie of Fairfield, with $73,426 on hand; Michael Goldstein of Greenwich, who reported $8,760; and Dan Miressi of Norwalk with $42.21 raised. Also challenging Himes is Independent Jaden Joseph Skudlarek of Fairfield, who reported no money.
On Saturday, May 11, the Democratic State Convention will be held at the Mohegan Sun Resort & Casino, while Republicans will gather at Central Connecticut State University on Monday, May 13. Congressional conventions will be held in each of the five individual congressional districts.