Sean Duffy has big cash lead in 7th District race; Julie Lassa catching up

Republican congressional candidate Sean Duffy has a $376,000 cash advantage on his closest competitor to replace U.S. Rep. Dave Obey, D-Wausau.

But with strong support from national party organizations, Democratic candidate Julie Lassa raised $313,011 since mid-May, according to her first official fundraising report.

The three candidates who were required to file official fundraising totals with federal election officials at the end of June reported more than $1.3 million in total contributions.

Duffy and Rudolph farmer Dan Mielke are competing in the Republican primary. Lassa, a state senator from Stevens Point, and Don Raihala, a real estate broker from Superior, will face off in the Democratic primary.

Raihala officially filed to run in the 7th Congressional District last week, after the end date for the quarterly reports submitted by the other congressional candidates.

About 45 percent of the contributions to Lassa’s campaign came from organized political committees, including the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and U.S. House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer’s AMERIPAC.

Lassa’s spokesman, Rick Fromberg, said the campaign has received contributions from more than 1,100 people, and the majority live in Wisconsin.

“That’s what’s fueling our campaign — smaller donations, from citizens who are responding to Julie’s message,” Fromberg said.

Ken Mayer, political science professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, said the larger percentage of money from political committees Lassa received isn’t unusual for U.S. House members or candidates.

“It’s the Obey factor,” Mayer said. “She’s got some catching up to do, but certainly he and the party will be helping her with that and making a concerted effort to hang on to the seat.”

About 13 percent of the total contributions to Duffy’s campaign have come from committees and personal contributions. Duffy raised about $470,000 this quarter, bringing his total to $670,000.

“We’re happy with our breakdown, especially looking at the difference between us and Julie Lassa,” Duffy’s campaign spokesman, Matt Seaholm, said. “I think it’s disconcerting she’s been able to raise more (political committee) dollars in their self-proclaimed six weeks than we have this entire campaign.”

Seaholm said more than 85 percent of the individual contributions Duffy has received are from Wisconsin residents.

Duffy did receive support from heavy hitters on the GOP’s campaign fundraising scene. The House Conservatives Fund gave his campaign $5,000 in March, and former vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin’s committee, SarahPAC, kicked in $2,500.

Duffy’s fundraising success, especially since Obey’s decision to retire, has made him a real threat to Democrats, Mayer said.

“It’s clear that this is going to be an expensive race, three or four million dollars,” he said.

Mielke, who personally has contributed more than $392,000 to his campaign, reported $1,179 cash on hand at the end of June. He reported $4,139 on hand at the end of March.

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