For our April mid-month Insider we have a quick look at initial first-quarter fundraising numbers and updates on key US House races—including a preview of Pennsylvania’s April 23 primaries. Plus, abortion has once again roiled a key swing state.
US Senate: The Gender Gap Persists
First quarter fundraising reports were due on Monday, and while we haven’t had time to dive deep into the data (stay tuned for the end-of-April Insider), we have enough information to see that the gender gap continues in key US Senate races.
- Toss Up — Jacky versus the Men: Sen. Sherrod Brown received $10 million in contributions from Jan. 1 to March 31, more than many Senate candidates raise in their entire campaigns. Sen. Rosen posted an impressive $4 million—her best quarter this cycle—but still behind all three men in toss up races. Sen. Jon Tester and Rep. Ruben Gallego both raised $7 million. Ohio is an expensive state, but Nevada is on par with Arizona and much more expensive than Montana.
- Safe D — Angela versus the Money: As of this week, Maryland Rep. David Trone became the most prolific self-funder in history (he has loaned his campaign $41,771,000 this cycle, including $18 million last quarter). Angela is raising well, receiving crucial endorsements, and closing the polling gap—but this avalanche of self-funding is a huge hurdle. Angela posted $1.2 million in contributions last quarter and $6.2 for the cycle.
- Lean D — Elissa and Tammy: Cook rates both of these races lean D, though based on the last presidential cycle in Michigan and Wisconsin, we think they’re more like toss ups. The only man in a lean D race, Sen. Bob Casey, is raising on par with Tammy (both at around $4.6 million) and a little more than Elissa ($4.3 million).
🔖 Bookmark: 2024 Fundraising Tables, US Senate [Electing Women] (only the Senate tab is complete)
Headlines
Senate fundraising dwarfs past Senate and presidential races [Roll Call]
Hotline’s Q1 Senate fundraising chart [National Journal]
Rosen raises record $5 million in first quarter [Nevada Independent]
In Tightening Battleground, Nevada Senate Moves To Toss Up [Cook Political Report]
Wisconsin Democrat hustles to keep key Senate seat against Trump-backed millionaire [AP]
Fundraising in Md. Senate election reaches astonishing heights [Maryland Matters]
U.S. Senate hopeful Blunt Rochester sets Delaware fundraising record [Bay to Bay News]
Katie Porter’s Senate bid is over — but her fundraising push is not [Politico]
US House: Major Updates in Battleground Races
Fundraising dollars aren’t just flowing into campaigns. Outside spending is ramping up too, and the gender breakdown there is a little better.
This month, Democrats’ House Majority PAC became the first major US House committee to start spending, and a woman is the presumptive or likely Democratic nominee in 12 out of the 24 districts its TV and digital ads will hit. That spending includes three of the most vulnerable incumbent women, Reps. Susan Wild (PA-7), Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (WA-3) and Marcy Kaptur (OH-9).
Speaking of Pennsylvania, the Congressional primaries are a week away, and there are two competitive races to watch:
- PA-10, Flip, Challenger, Janelle Stelson: The former news anchor is the frontrunner in the primary to take on Republican Rep. Scott Perry in this competitive district.
- PA-12, Hold, Incumbent, Rep. Summer Lee: Summer, a progressive often associated with ‘The Squad,’ is being primaried from the right by Edgewood Council Member Bhavini Patel in this safe D district.
🔖 Bookmark: Tracking the 2024 House Primaries [WomenCount]
Headlines
Key Democratic group pours $186 million in battle for House, preps for ‘trench warfare’ [CNN]
Hotline’s Q1 House fundraising chart [National Journal]
Kuster’s Retirement Could Make NH-02 More Competitive [Cook Political Report]
Washington House Analysis: A New Era in the Evergreen State [Cook Political Report]
Pennsylvania 10th Congressional District candidate profile: Janelle Stelson [WGAL]
Báez-Geller campaign reports $142K haul in Q1, new PAC endorsement [Florida Politics]
Lee and Patel face off for lone Democratic debate ahead of primary [PA Capital-Star]
OB-GYN Kristin Lyerly launches campaign for open 8th Congressional District [WI Examiner]
State & Local: From Southeast to Southwest
This month we saw the 2024 abortion drama move from Florida to Arizona, when the Grand Canyon state’s Supreme Court reinstated a near-total abortion ban that has been on the books since before the state was … even a state (1864).
In better news, Arizona for Abortion Access announced at the beginning of the month that they had gathered 506,892 signatures, more than the nearly 400,000 they need to put a pro-abortion rights constitutional amendment on the ballot this fall. That’s three months ahead of schedule, but they plan to keep collecting signatures until the July 3 deadline.
🔖 Bookmark: 2023 and 2024 abortion-related ballot measures [Ballotpedia]
Headlines
Florida Democratic Party raises $1.3M in first quarter [The Hill]
AZ abortion rights amendment backers says they’ve gathered signatures needed [NBC]
AZ Supreme Court reinstated a near-total abortion ban. Here’s what you should know. [PBS]
Arizona’s abortion ban upends 2024 election [Axios]
Supreme Court orders Jacobsen to send abortion ballot petition to group [Daily Montanan]
National: Now You Can Call It a Comeback
The national polls are starting to move decidedly in President Biden’s direction, but it would be better if he wasn’t polling even against a man facing 88 felony counts. After months of bad polling, though, it’s a relief to see things turning around. Hopefully, the recent inflation report—plus continued concerns about key demographic groups—doesn’t send things spiraling.
And there’s a new election threat on the block. Republican secretaries of state are glomming on to the idea that the Democratic National Convention is too late this year to certify President Biden on states’ ballots. Exemptions have been made for Republican and Democratic nominees in the past, and local and national Democratic officials are exploring fixes. Don’t panic yet.
Headlines
Biden Has All But Caught Up With Trump in Polls [NY Magazine]
Are young voters really embracing Donald Trump? [Vox]
Biden Loses Support Among Black Men, WSJ Poll Finds [Wall Street Journal]
How Voters Describe the 2024 Election in One Word [New York Times]
States warn Biden could miss ballot. [Washington Post]
Kamala Watch
Inside Kamala Harris’ fast Arizona trip after abortion ruling [Axios]
Kamala Harris unveils more student debt relief measures in North Philly [WHYY]
VP Kamala Harris schmoozes with Mayor Parker ahead of Pa. primary [Philly Inquirer]
OKC-based ‘I’ve Had It’ podcast features VP Kamala Harris in latest episode [The Oklahoman]
Opening push to flip NC, Kamala Harris tells Charlotte Democrats: ‘Organizing matters’ [WUNC]
Kamala Harris announces billions in clean energy grants in Charlotte [Charlotte Observer]
Member Spotlight: Barbara Bridges
Electing Women Denver member Barbara Bridges is a co-producer of SUFFs, a Broadway musical about the women who fought for our right to vote. If you’ll be in the New York metro area this spring, consider checking it out!
Barbara is a local arts philanthropist and is the founder of Denver Film’s Women+Film festival, which has been running since 2011.
SUFFS: The Musical
Presented by Hillary Rodham Clinton and Lin-Manuel Miranda
Get tickets: https://suffsmusical.com/tickets/