PA Bill Number: HB1472
Title: In primary and election expenses, further providing for reporting by candidate and political committees and other persons and for late contributions ...
Description: In primary and election expenses, further providing for reporting by candidate and political committees and other persons and for late contrib ...
Last Action: Referred to STATE GOVERNMENT
Last Action Date: Apr 22, 2024
Democrat Lamb takes early fundraising lead over Saccone in race to fill Tim Murphy's congressional seat :: 02/01/2018
Though a political novice in a Republican-friendly district, Democrat Conor Lamb has so far outpaced the fundraising of his rival, Republican state Rep. Rick Saccone, in the March 13 special election for Pennsylvania's 18th Congressional District.
Voting in the special election
The Allegheny County Elections Division reminds residents who plan to vote in the city's District 8 special election on March 6 that they must be registered by Monday. Voters who have moved or changed their name or party affiliation also must notify the elections division. Voters can do so at www.votespa.com.
Campaign finance records show he garnered a 2-to-1 fundraising edge with help from Democratic officeholders, family members, and at least one well-known comedienne.
According to filings due Thursday at the Federal Election Commission, Mr. Saccone raised a total of $214,675.46 in the latter part of 2017, when the race to replace former Congressman Tim Murphy began. Of that money, $11,000 was loaned to the effort by Mr. Saccone himself, and another $41,899.32 was transferred from a committee intended to finance Mr. Saccone's scuttled Senate campaign.
Mr. Lamb, meanwhile, had raised $557,551.40 by year's end. And he retained a strong advantage after factoring the campaigns' spending last year.
Mr. Saccone's campaign spent $14,737.25 last year, beginning 2018 with just under $200,000. Mr. Lamb spent roughly ten times as much — $145,255.04 — but still had $412,186.36 on hand to start the year.
Mr. Lamb's contributors include a number of names familiar to Pittsburghers, including former Mayor Tom Murphy, former US Attorney (and Mr. Lamb's old boss) David Hickton. Local Democrats in the Legislature and Pittsburgh City Council also backed Mr. Lamb. So did members of the Lamb family itself, including a campaign committee that supports Mr. Lamb's uncle, City Controller Michael Lamb.
Oh, and there's also two $1,000 donations from Rosie O'Donnell, who is described on reports as "Self-employed/comic."
Mr. Lamb also drew a $2,000 contribution from Maryland Congressman Steny Hoyer, the second-ranking Democrat. A second PAC affiliated with Mr. Hoyer, AmeriPAC, contributed an additional $5,000. That will likely draw fire from Republicans who have been trying to link Mr. Lamb to the Democratic leadership — in particular minority leader Nancy Pelosi — despite Mr. Lamb's calls for new leaders in both parties.
Mr. Saccone also received support from notable Republicans inside the region and beyond. The political committees of area congressmen Keith Rothfus and Bill Shuster backed him, as did Allegheny County Councilwoman Sue Means and retiring state Rep. Mark Mustio. Nationally, Mr. Saccone received support from conservative organizations including Club for Growth, as well as as Montana Congressman Greg Gianforte, who is perhaps best known for having body-slammed a reporter during a special election.
The 18th district, which incorporates portions of Allegheny, Greene, Washington and Westmoreland counties, has been safe for Republicans. Mr. Murphy held the seat easily until his resignation amid scandal last fall, and both President Donald Trump and 2012 Republican candidate Mitt Romney won the district by roughly 20 percent. But Republicans have been expressing unease about their prospects, in part because of concerns that Mr. Saccone’s fundraising was lackluster.
It remains to be seen, however, how meaningful Mr. Lamb’s advantage is. Conservatives on the national level have been flooding the district with outside money and other attention. Vice-President Mike Pence, in fact, is slated to hold a rally for Mr. Saccone on Friday.
In Pittsburgh's other competitive Congressional race, the 12th District north of the city, attorney Beth Tarasi begins 2018 with a commanding financial lead over her fellow Democratic contenders.
Ms. Tarasi raised $77,079.81 in the final quarter of 2017, and spent $28,084.14. Combined with activity reported earlier in the year, that left her with $132,700.88 in hand to being 2018.
Educator and graduate student Aaron Anthony raised $26,944.18 in the final quarter of 2017 and spent $12,197.44. Combined with previous activity earlier in the year, that left him with $35,192.88
Consultant and activist Ray Linsenmeyer, who got into the race later than his rivals, raised his first $34,392.44 in the closing months of 2017. After spending, he had $21,019.48 to start the year. Brain researcher Tom Prigg raised $5,247.28 and spent $9,594.27. That drew down on money he raised earlier in the year, leaving him with $7,169.33 to start 2018.
Ms. Tarasi's donors included some familiar female names to Pittsburgh politics: frequent donors Bonnie DiCarlo and Georgia Berner as well as Pam Iovino, who herself had sought to run in the 18th District.
Ms. Tarasi's campaign heralded the results, noting that "Beth raised more than her three primary opponents combined, and filed with more than twice as much COH than the rest of her primary opponents."
"While there are many critical elements to a successful campaign ... financial resources are critical for any competitive Congressional candidate," spokeswoman Abigail Gardner said in a statement.
But the Republican incumbent those Democrats hope to beat, Congressman Keith Rothfus, handily outraised them all, garnering $225,169.70 in contributions in the final quarter of 2017. He goes into 2018 with $1,215,216.58
Chris Potter: cpotter@post-gazette.com or 412-263-2533.
