Kentucky challenger Amy McGrath (D) is the surprise top Senate fundraiser for Q3.
Oct. 22, 2019 — The campaign financial disclosure reports are now published and, as usual, the Daily Kos Elections site has compiled a cumulative activity summary. The list of top fundraisers includes some familiar names, but also features a few newcomers.
The top Senate fundraiser is a surprise, as Kentucky challenger Amy McGrath (D) attracted more than $10.7 million in the quarter, over $7 million of which came in small-dollar unitemized contributions. She is opposing Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R), which explains why she has attracted such a large amount of national activist money.
As they have for the entire cycle, Arizona candidates Mark Kelly (D) and appointed Sen. Martha McSally (R) again posted impressive combined quarter fundraising figures.
Kelly, a retired astronaut and husband of former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-Tucson), raised over $5 million more for the quarter taking his election cycle total to almost $14 million. Sen. McSally is close behind. She pulled in just over $3 million for the quarter and has accumulated approximately $8.3 million since the campaign began. These numbers are more in line with a big state Senate race, making them extraordinary for an Arizona political contest, a state that has only nine congressional districts.
The Senate candidates breaking the $3 million barrier for the quarter are Sens. Lindsey Graham (R-SC; $3.24 million in the 3rd Quarter, $12.9 million for the election cycle), Maine challenger Sara Gideon (D; $3.18 million; $4.2 million), John Cornyn (R-TX; $3.11 million, $13.5 million), and Michigan challenger John James (R; $3.1 million, $4.7 million).
Those banking over $2 million for the past 12 weeks are, Sens. Gary Peters (D-MI; $2.48 million for the 3rd Quarter, $9.2 million for the election cycle), Cory Gardner (R-CO; $2.42 million, $9.1 million), Mitch McConnell (R-KY; $2.24 million, $13.4 million), Jeanne Shaheen (R-NH; $2.23 million, $7.3 million), South Carolina challenger Jamie Harrison ($2.21 million, $4.0 million), Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) and Colorado challenger John Hickenlooper (D) both with $2.12 million, and Alabama Sen. Doug Jones (D; $2.01 million, $5.7 million). Sen. Collins has raised $8.6 million for the election cycle and Hickenlooper, $2.1 million for a Senate campaign that began in September.
Combined, the 87 filed Senate candidates raised a total of just under $80 million for the third quarter period ending Sept. 30.
Veteran California Republican Congressman Devin Nunes (R-Tulare/Fresno), who reported $2.6 million in receipts for the previous 12 weeks, again leads the prolific House fundraisers as he did during the 2018 election cycle. He is the only House incumbent or challenger to exceed $2 million raised for the third quarter. Campaign cycle-to-date, Nunes has obtained just under $7 million, and he held $5.8 million in his campaign account on September 30.
Those breaking the $1 million receipt mark for the quarter were: Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY; $1.41 million for the quarter and $3.47 million for the campaign), Dan Crenshaw (R-TX; $1.37 million, $2.73 million), Ilhan Omar (D-MN; $1.09 million, $2.57 million), Katie Porter (D-CA; $1.04 million, $2.5 million), and Texas Democratic open seat contender Gina Ortiz Jones (TX-23; $1.03 million, $1.63 million). California challenger Carl DeMaio (R-CA-50) reported $1.28 million in quarter receipts, but over $1 million of that amount was transferred from a previous committee.
A total of 68 members and candidates reported over $1 million cash-on-hand on Sept. 30. Those holding over $1.5 million are listed below (29; all incumbents):
| Incumbent | Amount Raised |
|---|---|
| Devin Nunes (R-CA-22) | $7.0 million |
| Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ-5) | $6.4 million |
| Richie Neal (D-MA-1) | $4.31 million |
| Henry Cuellar (D-TX-28) | $3.24 million |
| Bill Foster (D-IL-11) | $3.21 million |
| Kurt Schrader (D-OR-5) | $2.84 million |
| Ron Kind (D-WI-3) | $2.8 million |
| Cherie Bustos (D-IL-17) | $2.7 million |
| Charlie Crist (D-FL-13) | $2.56 million |
| Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY-8) | $2.34 million |
| Ann Wagner (R-MO-2) | $2.19 million |
| Josh Harder (D-CA-10) | $2.0 million |
| Katie Porter (D-CA-45) | $1.99 million |
| Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY-14) | $1.91 million |
| Tom Suozzi (D-NY-3) | $1.86 million |
| Jeff Fortenberry (R-NE-1) | $1.85 million |
| Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA-6) | $1.84 million |
| Mike Gallagher (R-WI-8) | $1.77 million |
| Elissa Slotkin (D-MI-8) | $1.73 million |
| Mikie Sherrill (D-NJ-11) | $1.68 million |
| Max Rose (D-NY-11) | $1.67 million |
| Dan Crenshaw (R-TX-2) | $1.62 million |
| Haley Stevens (D-MI-11) | $1.61 million |
| Ilhan Omar (D-MN-5) | $1.56 million |
| Katie Hill (D-CA-25) | $1.54 million |
| Harley Rouda (D-CA-48) | $1.53 million |
| Antonio Delgado (D-NY-19) | $1.52 million |
| Tom Malinowski (D-NJ-5) | $1.5 million |
| Peter DeFazio (D-OR-4) | $1.5 million |
Three open-seat candidates or challengers reported having over $1 million in their campaign accounts. They are: Democrat Gina Ortiz Jones ($1.44 million cash-on-hand, running in the TX-23 open seat), and Republicans Carl DeMaio ($1.2 million; CA-50, challenging Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-Alpine/San Diego) and Michelle Steele ($1.01 million; CA-48, challenging freshman Rep. Harley Rouda, D-Laguna Beach).
