New York: Charlie Rangel Spending More Money Than He’s Raising
New York Rep. Charlie Rangel (D), in the toughest primary of his career since he came to Congress in 1970, pulled in more than $29,000 from fellow Members from April 1 to June 6, according to newly filed fundraising reports.
But all the help from his colleagues wasn’t enough to keep the campaign’s burn rate below 100 percent. The Rangel campaign spent $344,000 during the pre-primary period but raised $297,000 during that two-month period. That left the 82-year-old Congressman with just $179,000 in cash on hand as of June 6 — not a huge sum for the last days of a competitive election. The primary is June 26.
State Sen. Adriano Espaillat (D), Rangel’s main rival, pulled in $272,000 and spent $198,000 during the same period. On June 6, he had $73,000 in cash on hand.
A number of Members donated to Rangel as it became increasingly clear he is in a tough fight. He received checks from the campaign committees of Democratic Reps. Al Green (Texas), Barbara Lee (Calif.), Charlie Gonzalez (Texas), Yvette Clarke (N.Y.), Gary Ackerman (N.Y.), Keith Ellison (Minn.), Carolyn Maloney (N.Y.), Marcia Fudge (Ohio), Doris Matsui (Calif.), Rubén Hinojosa (Texas), Peter Welch (Vt.) and Del. Donna Christensen (Virgin Islands).
Other Members sent money to Rangel through their PACs, including those affiliated with Democratic Reps. Joe Crowley (N.Y.), Jerrold Nadler (N.Y.), Lynn Woolsey (Calif.), Karen Bass (Calif.), Bennie Thompson (Miss.), Mike Thompson (Calif.), Cedric Richmond (La.), Sanford Bishop (Ga.) and Collin Peterson (Minn.) — as well as New York Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D).
Rep. Hank Johnson (D-Ga.) gave a personal contribution of $1,000.
About half of the Member donations Rangel received in the period were from fellow Congressional Black Caucus members. Rangel also received $5,000 from the CBC’s PAC last week.
Other donations appeared to come from some high-profile names across the country including, former San Francisco Mayor Willie L. Brown Jr. (D) and music producer Quincy Jones.
Rangel’s Harlem-anchored district is heavily Democratic, so the winner of the primary is almost certain to be coming to Congress next January.
