Four for Friday: Fundraising flooding major Pennsylvania races

For evidence supporting the age-old aphorism that money talks, look no further than Pennsylvania’s highest-profile 2024 races, where lopsided fundraising hauls appear to be making an impact. From congressional districts to the U.S. Senate, candidates racked up sizable contributions, bolstered by super PAC dollars, in 2024's third quarter – financing a blitz of 11th-hour media efforts and, in some cases, demonstrably tilting tight races.

All of which prompts us to wonder: With the election cycle's No. 1 fundraiser, Vice President Kamala Harris, hauling in an unprecedented $1 billion in the two and a half months of her presidential campaign, why is her support slipping in the campaign’s final weeks? It puts one in mind of another aphorism: Money can't buy love.

Here’s your Four For Friday, October campaign finance edition: 

Super PAC money outshines candidate spending in Senate race

The importance of the U.S. Senate race between Democratic incumbent Bob Casey and Republican nominee Dave McCormick couldn’t be clearer after seeing the numbers behind super PAC donations flowing into an already record-breaking, expensive campaign. 

Federal Election Commission reports show that while Casey – who raised more than twice as much money this cycle as he did during his 2019 re-election bid – outraised and outspent McCormick’s campaign, outside dollars have flipped the script. The McCormick campaign’s $22.2 million in spending has been boosted by more than $108 million in support from outside groups. When including campaign and outside spending, according to AdImpact, spending for the Democratic nominee comes in around $155.5 million, while spending for his Republican challenger comes to $169 million. 

Stelson outraises Perry 

Earlier this week came the news that Democratic challenger Janelle Stelson had outraised her GOP rival, incumbent U.S. Rep. Scott Perry, by 3 to 1 in the third quarter of 2024. Now comes the news that their race for Pennsylvania’s 10th Congressional District is a toss-up, according to the Cook Political Report – which had previously rated the contest “Lean R,” with the advantage to Perry. Stelson's momentum was helped by the candidates’ only debate – which took place in Harrisburg last week – and looks to continue with cash pouring in.

A Susquehanna Polling and Research survey showed Stelson, a former broadcast journalist, with a 9% lead going into that debate – 48% versus 39% for the former House Freedom Caucus chair. The erosion of Perry's support in his Capital Region district has prompted state Republicans to bring in high-profile support for the incumbent's campaign, including U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson, who stumped for Perry recently. But with Stelson bringing in $2.8 million last quarter versus Perry’s $853,000, money appears to be most effectively moving the needle in one of the state’s most-watched races.

Wild outraises Mackenzie 

Continuing an impressive fundraising streak, Democratic U.S. Rep. Susan Wild brought in four times more campaign cash than her Republican challenger, state Rep. Ryan Mackenzie, in the third quarter of 2024. In fact, Wild’s $2.58 million haul represents her strongest fundraising quarter thus far in her bid for a fourth term representing the Lehigh Valley. It certainly dwarfed the $585,000 raised last quarter by her opponent – and brought her campaign total to $7.66 million this election cycle, dwarfing Mackenzie’s $1.26 million. 

More than $2 million of Wild’s third-quarter fundraising came from individual donors – including, notably, from the father-son philanthropy duo of George and Alex Soros. Wild has also racked up significant financial support from her Democratic Congressional colleagues and from labor unions, and her much-touted endorsement from GOP former U.S. Rep. Liz Cheney this week lent additional momentum to a campaign currently rated as a toss-up by the Cook Political Report.

More congressional cash

This week’s campaign finance filings offered a treasure trove of data, providing a glimpse into which candidates have a cash advantage heading into the home stretch before Election Day. In the 1st Congressional District, Democratic challenger Ashley Ehasz outraised incumbent U.S. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, pulling in more than $1.25 million in Q3, compared to Fitzpatrick’s $911,690. Fitzpatrick still had a major advantage in cash on hand, with more than $4.5 million in the bank, while Ehasz had approximately $912,000, according to her quarterly report. 

In the 8th Congressional District, incumbent Democratic Rep. Matt Cartwright came out of Q3 with an advantage in both fundraising and cash on hand. He raised just under $2.2 million and finished the quarter with $1.9 million in the bank, per his quarterly filing. Cartwright’s general election opponent, Republican Rob Bresnahan, raised $1,162,01181 in Q3 and finished the reporting period with $464,034.57 on hand.

And in the 17th Congressional District, which covers a portion of Western Pennsylvania, Democratic U.S. Rep. Chris Deluzio raised $1.48 million in Q3 and finished the period with $1.65 million on hand. His GOP opponent, state Rep. Rob Mercuri, raised $510,524.86 and finished the quarter with $635,012.02 on hand.