IA-01:Abby Finkenauer Breaks Another Iowa Record With $1.6 Million Quarter
n case you were wondering if the news could get even worse for vulnerable incumbent Congressman Rod Blum, you have your answer: it can. Abby Finkenauer, his Democratic opponent, will report raising a cool $1.6 million for the 3rd Quarter reporting period, her campaign tells Starting Line. That more than doubles her previous quarters haul of $765,000, which was already an all-time record for an Iowa Democratic congressional candidate for one quarter.
It comes on the heels of several impressive quarterly reports announced today from Democratic challenger candidates from around the country. Both Amy McGrath in Kentuckys 6th District and Joshua Harder in Californias 10th District brought in more than $3 million apiece.
Finkenauers Iowa record-breaker gives her yet another edge in what Democrats see as one of their best pick-up opportunities in the country. If elected at age 29, the two-term state representative from Dubuque will be one of the youngest-ever women elected to the House (only New Yorks Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is a few months younger). A House majority for the party likely doesnt happen without Finkenauer flipping Iowas 1st, and shes gotten significant national attention for her run.
This fundraising total will ensure that Finkenauer is well-prepared for the final five weeks of the campaign regardless of what happens on the national level. The DCCC pulled their ad buys for a few weeks in September based on Finkenauers strength, but appears to be back up to help for most of October. Finkenauer and allied groups have still been significantly outspending Blum, though Blums been up on TV plenty.
Finkenauers total for the entire cycle now rises to $3.49 million. Compare that to some of Iowas biggest congressional finance records in past cycles (Tom Latham raised $3.4 million in 2012, Steve King got $3.75 million in 2012), and its very likely that Finkenauer ends 2018 as Iowas best congressional fundraiser ever.
https://iowastartingline.com/2018/10/01/abby-finkenauer-breaks-another-iowa-record-with-1-6-million-quarter/
ABBY FINKENAUER
https://www.abbyfinkenauer.com