U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Madison, outraised GOP rival Eric Hovde more than 3-to-1 over the first half of October, fueled by contributions from individual donors, according to their latest campaign finance reports.
Baldwin reported $4.8 million raised between Oct. 1-16, including almost $4.5 million from individuals. She spent almost $7.7 million and finished the period with $2.4 million in the bank.
Hovde reported $1.4 million raised, $3.5 million spent and $3.6 million cash on hand. The businessman didn’t put any additional personal money into the campaign after already giving $20 million to his bid.
The two-week fundraising period came on the heels of the GOP-aligned Senate Leadership Fund announcing plans to spend $17 million in Wisconsin’s U.S. Senate race. It also coincided with polls tightening and the Cook Political Report moving the race to a toss up from “lean Dem.”
Baldwin began issuing urgent fundraising appeals that appear to have paid off. During the pre-election reporting period in 2018 — just ahead of Baldwin cruising to a 10-point win — she reported $1.6 million in receipts.
In western Wisconsin’s 3rd CD, Dem nonprofit leader Rebecca Cooke again outraised freshman GOP incumbent Derrick Van Orden.
Cooke reported $701,182 raised during the pre-election period. She spent $999,781 and had $361,152 left in the bank.
Van Orden, R-Prairie du Chien, reported $454,333 raised, $1.1 million spent and just more than $1 million cash on hand.
In the previous fundraising period, which covered July 25-Sept. 30, Cooke raised $2.6 million, topping the $1.4 million in receipts that Van Orden reported.
In southeastern Wisconsin’s 1st CD, Dem challenger Peter Barca outraised U.S. Rep. Bryan Steil, R-Janesville, in the period.
Barca reported $156,122 raised, $121,140 spent and $133,012 cash on hand.
Steil reported $98,344 in receipts, $1 million spent and $2.3 million in the bank.
Barca topped Steil in the previous reporting period, $910,922 to $849,230.