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Tag: rodney frelinghuysen
In Open Congressional Seats, Democrats Raise Three Times As Much As Republicans

In Open Congressional Seats, Democrats Raise Three Times As Much As Republicans

Reprinted with permission from Shareblue.

Democrats are crushing Republicans on fundraising — and they’re doing it in the congressional districts that are critical to winning back the House in this year’s midterms.

Bloomberg analyzed the data from 12 races for open seats and found that Democrats have collectively raised $23.3 million. That’s three times more than what Republicans have brought in.

New Jersey Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen, for example, announced this week that he will not see re-election. Daily Kos Elections notes that Frelinghuysen’s fundraising had been “surprisingly weak,” especially for a 12-term congressman who “hails from one of the oldest political families in New Jersey.” Meanwhile, Democrat Mikie Sherrill — a former federal prosecutor, Navy pilot, and mother of four — has raised $1.2 million. The only other Republican in the race has raised a mere $8,659.

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, which raises money for Democratic House candidates, is also crushing its Republican counterpart in small-donor donations, which, as Bloomberg notes, is “often seen as a barometer of grassroots enthusiasm.” Democrats had banked $22.2 million by the end of 2017, while Republicans had a paltry $9.8 million.

Ohio Rep. Steve Stivers, who chairs the National Republican Congressional Committee, recently admitted Trump would be a drag in most competitive districts and couldn’t even name a single battleground district where he’d want Trump to campaign.

Major donors and average Americans voters already see the writing on the wall, and their money is going to Democrats in anticipation of halting Trump’s destructive agenda.

Oliver Willis is a former research fellow at Media Matters for America who has been blogging about politics since 2001. Follow him on Twitter @owillis.

PHOTO: The Capitol Building is lit at sunset in Washington, U.S., December 20, 2016. REUTERS/Joshua Roberts

With Frelinghuysen Out, More Than A Third Of GOP Committee Chairs Fleeing Congress

With Frelinghuysen Out, More Than A Third Of GOP Committee Chairs Fleeing Congress

House Republicans got yet another piece of bad news in their struggle to retain their majority when Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen (R-NJ), chair of the House Appropriations Committee, announced he would not seek re-election.

“I want to use the opportunity to strongly encourage the many young people I meet to consider public service,” said Frelinghuysen in a written statement announcing his retirement Monday morning. “Public service is an incredible way to turn your convictions into something that serves the greater good and to do it alongside people from every walk of life and background.”

Frelinghuysen is the 33rd GOP member of Congress this cycle to decline to seek another term. His announcement follows the retirement of scandal-plagued Pennsylvania Rep. Pat Meehan, as well as that of former Utah Rep. Jason Chaffetz — who resigned before completing his term — and Tennessee Rep. Diane Black, who is running for governor.

Frelinghuysen was likely to be one of the most vulnerable Republicans on the map, in a district Trump won by a hair. According to the UVA Center for Politics Crystal Ball, New Jersey’s 11th Congressional District has now moved to a toss-up.

Yet his decision to leave comes as something of a surprise. Just three weeks ago, when The Hill asked whether he had plans to leave Congress, he replied, “Certainly not.”

And yet Frelinghuysen, one of the only Republicans to vote against the tax scam, appears to understand the dire electoral situation for House Republicans, who are facing widespread voter anger and a record number of Democratic challengers.

Whatever happens in November 2018, the ranks of the old guard GOP leadership will be severely depleted.

Matthew Chapman is a video game designer and science fiction author from Texas. Can be found on Twitter @fawfulfan.