Ryan raises, spends near-record funds after GOP targets his seat
YOUNGSTOWN
U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan used the fact that national Republicans are targeting his seat as part of a near-record campaign fundraising strategy during the first three months of the year, but he spent almost as much as he raised.
Ryan, of Howland, D-13th, collected $162,825 in campaign contributions between January and March as part of his 2018 re-election effort, according to a report he filed with the Federal Election Commission.
That was his second-strongest first quarter, with $178,389 in 2014 being his best, according to an analysis of his campaign finance reports by The Vindicator.
But during the first three months of this year, Ryan spent $150,552 – the most he’s ever spent for a first quarter, the newspaper’s analysis shows.
That left Ryan with a net gain of only $12,273 for the first three months of the year. That’s among his poorest net gains for a first quarter dating back to when he first ran for Congress in 2002.
For example, in 2016, he raised $71,696 and spent $44,998 during the first three months of that year. So while Ryan raised less than half of what he did in the first three months of this year, he ended up with a larger net gain – $26,698 – in last year’s first quarter.
“This quarter’s report reflects the highly political time our country is going through,” said Michael Zetts, a Ryan spokesman. “After the election and Democratic minority leader bid, Ryan’s heightened political role in the Democratic Party has drawn increased national support that his campaign is building upon. This quarter, Ryan expanded his digital outreach and fundraising efforts in order to better connect with Ohioans and Americans across the country, which included a revamped website, robust email program and additional campaign staff.”
Despite Ryan’s receiving 68 percent of the vote in last November’s election while winning his eighth two-year term in the U.S. House, the National Republican Congressional Campaign, the GOP House main campaign and fundraising group, listed his district in February among 36 held by Democrats that it is targeting in the 2018 election.
Republicans haven’t announced a candidate to take on Ryan next year.
Ryan’s campaign sent out a number of emails to donors pointing to him being targeted by the NRCC, including one the day after the list came out that read: “D.C. Republicans have decided they know what’s best for Ohioans and put a target on Tim’s back. They will stop at nothing to replace Tim with an extremist Republican who will be another rubber stamp for President [Donald] Trump’s agenda.”
Zetts said: “After the NRCC announced they were actively working to defeat Congressman Ryan, many of his supporters came out to help defend against attacks from the D.C. Republican establishment.”
As of March 31, Ryan had $179,454 in his campaign account.
Of the $162,825 Ryan raised in the first three months, $87,855 came from individual contributors and the rest from political action committees.
Among Ryan’s biggest expenses in the first quarter were $19,149 to Veracity Media of Washington, D.C., for website development, and digital and media strategy consulting; $18,700 to Black Pearl Farms in Madison, Md., for a fundraiser at that resort; $9,906 to Fraioli & Associates of Washington for fundraising consulting fees; and $7,000 to Justin Brennan of Washington, also for a fundraising consulting fee.
The five-county 13th District includes most of Mahoning and Trumbull counties.
Meanwhile, in the 6th District, four-term incumbent Rep. Bill Johnson, a Marietta Republican, raised more and spent less than Ryan did in the first quarter.
Johnson received $198,445 and spent $79,555 during the first three months of the year.
The district is considered a safe Republican seat with Johnson getting 71 percent and Trump receiving 69 percent of the vote in last November’s election.
Johnson, who also doesn’t have an announced opponent for 2018, had $803,972 in his campaign fund as of March 31.
Of the $198,445 Johnson raised between January and March, $119,075 came from PACs and the rest from individual contributors.
Among his biggest expenses was $13,000 to the NRCC.
The 18-county 6th District includes all of Columbiana County and the southern portion of Mahoning.