ICYMI: Fitzpatrick Opens Up Massive Fundraising Advantage

PA-01 continues to be the biggest recruiting fail in the country and is quickly falling completely off the map for Democrats.

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PA1: Fitzpatrick Opens Up Massive Fundraising Advantage

Politics PA

John Cole

5/4/2020

Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Bucks) ends the first quarter of 2020 with a large cash advantage over his Democratic and Republican challengers. 

Fitzpatrick’s campaign raised just under $435,000 from the beginning of January to the end of March, while spending over $170,000 during this time period. His first quarter haul is a drop off from the previous quarter, where he raised $525,000, but still more than four times the amount of the highest raising challenger in the race. 

The second term Republican in the Philadelphia suburbs has now raised $2.37 million in the election cycle-to-date and entered April with just under $1.7 million cash on hand. 

Christina Finello, an Ivyland Borough Councilwoman who has been endorsed by the Bucks County Democratic Party, was the highest raising Democrat in the first quarter of 2020 by raising $90,000 from the beginning of January to the end of March, while spending just over $25,000 during that time period. She’s raised $175,000 since formally entering the race in the summer of 2019, but has spent just over $95,000 in the election cycle-to-date. 

Finello entered April with just under $75,000 cash on hand. 

Skylar Hurwitz, a technology entrepreneur and small business owner who has been endorsed by Our Revolution Pennsylvania, raised just under $7,000 from the beginning of January to the end of March, while spending just over $10,000 during that time period. He’s raised $10,000 since formally entering the race in the fall of 2019. 

Hurwitz entered April with $3,000 cash on hand. 

Debbie Wachspress, a Pennsbury School Board member who was the highest fundraising Democrat from the previous quarter, ended her bid in February after allegations of using “highly-offensive terms,” were made against the candidate, according to Levittownnow.com. 

Bucks County Prothonotary Judi Reiss, who also was seeking the Democratic Party nomination, exited the race in January prior the the Bucks County Democratic Party delivered its endorsement for the seat. 

Like Fitzpatrick’s previous bid for Congress, he is also facing a pro-Trump Republican and financial advisor, Andrew Meehan, in the GOP primary. 

Meehan raised just under $20,000 from the beginning of January to the end of March, while spending over $30,000 during that time period. The April filing report from the FEC says that Meehan’s campaign has -$16,000 cash on hand. 

Fitzpatrick’s 2018 bid for Congress against well funded Democratic challenger Scott Wallace was the most expensive Congressional race in the state last cycle, and the 7th most expensive Congressional race in the country, according to Open Secrets. $18 million total was raised between both candidates. 

Several ratings outlets have moved the race to Fitzpatrick’s favor since the previous campaign finance report. Larry Sabato’s Crystal Ball moved the race in the 1st Congressional District from Leans Republicans to Likely Republican, while Politico changed the rating from a Toss-Up to Leans Republican. 

Fitzpatrick is one of three Pennsylvania Republicans being targeted by the DCCC’s initial 2020 list, along with Reps. Mike Kelly (R-Butler) and Scott Perry (R-York).