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Ryan, LaTourette lead the way in fundraising
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U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan, D-17
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U.S. Rep. Stephen LaTourette
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Rep. Jason Altmire, D- Pa. (AP/Gene J. Puskar)
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U.S. Rep. Bill Johnson of Poland, R-6th
YOUNGSTOWN
The veteran members of Congress representing the Mahoning and Shenango valleys raised more money between April and June than the two freshmen who serve the area.
U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan of Niles, D-17th, raised $184,464.14 in this year’s second quarter, according to his campaign finance report filed with the Federal Election Commission.
During that three-month period, Ryan spent $105,960.37. Because of the money his campaign carried over from previous years, Ryan, a five-term congressman representing most of Trumbull County and about half of Mahoning County, had $177,099.18 in his campaign fund as of June 30.
Among Ryan’s biggest expense was $14,700 he paid in total to two fundraising consulting firms.
Ryan also paid $2,091 in legal fees to Perkins Coie LLP of Seattle.
Ryan’s campaign hired the firm for legal advice on what to do with $63,750 it received in campaign contributions from Paul Magliochetti, members of his family and employees. Magliochetti was a once-powerful lobbyist serving a 27-month prison sentence for making hundreds of thousands of dollars in illegal campaign donations to members of Congress, including Ryan.
Ryan chose to pay the $63,750 to the U.S. Treasury on March 25.
U.S. Rep. Steven C. LaTourette of Bainbridge, R-14th, a nine-term congressman representing seven northern townships in Trumbull County, raised $384,180 during the second quarter. It was the most money raised by any of the five U.S. House members who represent the area.
LaTourette spent $112,037.04 between April and June. As of June 30, including his carryover from previous years, LaTourette had $578,237.52 in his campaign fund.
U.S. Rep. Jason Altmire of McCandless, Pa., D-4th, a three-term congressman who represents all of Lawrence County and a portion of Mercer County, also had a strong second quarter in which he raised $371,558.89. Altmire spent only $78,356.32 during those three months. As of June 30, Altmire’s campaign fund had $426,363.51.
Freshman U.S. Rep. Bill Johnson of Marietta, R-6th, trailed the three veteran members of Congress in raising money in the second quarter. He received $121,748.30 and spent $72,884.45 between April and June.
Among Johnson’s major expenses was $17,063.16 he paid to two fundraising consulting firms and $20,575 to a third firm for media consulting.
He also paid $16,050 to himself as he continues to pay off the $70,050 he lent his campaign while running. Johnson’s campaign still owes him $15,000.
As of June 30, Johnson’s campaign had $155,944.65 in it.
U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly of Butler, Pa., R-3rd, in his first year representing a district that includes part of Mercer County, raised $102,129.54 and spent $33,295.75 during the second quarter. With his carryover, Kelly had $112,145.96 in his campaign fund as of June 30.
Washington Post political columnist Chris Cillizza called Kelly and four other GOP “vulnerable” freshmen the biggest “losers” in the second-quarter campaign fund race.