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Wilson’s campaign chest outweighs Johnson’s
YOUNGSTOWN
Though the race for the 6th Congressional District is considered to be close, the incumbent has raised and spent quite a bit more than his Republican challenger.
The campaign of U.S. Rep. Charlie Wilson, the two-term Democratic incumbent from St. Clairsville, raised $829,040.50 and spent $739,166.33 as of Oct. 13.
In comparison, Republican Bill Johnson of Poland raised $499,804.12 and spent $352,370.11 as of Oct. 13.
Johnson has given $55,545.72 to his campaign, while Wilson has provided no personal money to his.
Wilson has received $594,991.58 from political-action committees, and Johnson has $30,155 from PACs.
Wilson had $374,235.37 in his campaign fund as of Oct. 13 and had carried over money from previous campaigns.
Johnson had $147,434.01 left in his fund as of Oct. 13.
U.S. House candidates had to file pre-general election reports with the Federal Election Commission before midnight Friday. It is the last report candidates must file before the Nov. 2 general election.
But candidates have to provide information to the FEC about any donations they receive after the Oct. 13 filing deadline within 48 hours of obtaining that money.
As of Friday afternoon, Wilson had filed reports stating he raised $20,500 since Oct. 13. For Johnson, the amount is $18,200.
Also, organizations — primarily the National Republican Congressional Committee and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee — have spent $563,434.05 on this race, according to Sunlight Foundation Reporting Group, an agency that tracks federal political campaign money.
Nearly all of the money is for television advertising with a majority of it, $355,797, spent by the DCCC for TV ads against Johnson, according to the foundation.
Most national political handicappers have this race as either a “toss-up” or “leans Democrat.”
The 12-county 6th District includes all of Columbiana and about half of Mahoning.
The difference in raising and spending campaign money in the 17th Congressional District race is significantly more pronounced than in the 6th. The race isn’t considered competitive by national congressional experts.
U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan, a Democrat from Niles seeking his fifth term in the House, had raised $1,008,418.47 and spent $1,122,737.62 as of Oct. 13.
Because of money he carried over from previous campaigns, Ryan had $224,092.03 in his fund as of Oct. 13.
Jim Graham of Cort-land, his Republican opponent, raised $62,548.27, spent $48,037.99 and had $14,510.28 in his campaign account as of Oct. 13.
Ryan received $597,696.37 from PACs, while Graham has no PAC money.
James A. Traficant Jr. of Poland, an independent candidate who said he’s been unable to raise money, hasn’t submitted any paperwork with the FEC. Candidates who don’t raise or spend at least $5,000 don’t have to file with the agency.
Ryan received $15,400 in contributions after the Oct. 13 filing deadline as of Friday afternoon, and Graham has received nothing.
No outside organizations have spent any money for television advertising in this race.
The 17th District includes portions of Mahoning, Trumbull, Portage and Summit counties.