N.Y. Senate Dems close fund-raising gap with Republicans
ALBANY With control of the state Senate up for grabs, Democratic senators have greatly reduced their usual fund-raising gap with Republicans.
The state Democratic Senate Campaign Committee will report having $1.3 million cash on hand. Its the highest total since the Dems were last in the majority in 2009-10, a spokesman said.
The Senate Republicans, an aide said, will report having nearly $1.9 million on hand.
The last election cycle two years ago, the Republicans in their July filing reported having a combined $3.4 million in their two main campaign accounts. And in the last gubernatorial election year in 2014, the Senate GOP reported having more than $4.8 million on hand in their main campaign account.
By contrast, the Senate Democrats reported having just $722,000 on hand in July two years ago and $1.1 million in July, 2014.
The Dems say many of their top candidates will also each report having six figures on hand when the filings are due on Monday, including James Skoufis, an assemblyman seeking an open Orange County seat. Skoufis, the Democrats say, has $320,000 in his campaign account while Karen Smythe, who is running against GOP incumbent Sen. Sue Serino in Dutchess County, will report having $215,000 on hand.
Senate Democrats have never been better positioned for success, with record levels of support and the political winds at our backs as New Yorkers realize the need for dramatic change in the State Senate, said Sen. Michael Gianaris, the Queens Democrat who heads his conferences campaign committee.
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/ny-pol-senate-fundraising-control-20180715-story.html