MA-01: Money, endorsements flowing in 1st Congressional race
HOLYOKE — Money is flowing into the 1st Congressional District as the Democratic primary race for the U.S. House seat approaches on Sept. 1.
In new filings with the Federal Election Commission, incumbent U.S. Rep. Richard Neal, D-Springfield, and his challenger, Holyoke Mayor Alex Morse, detailed their fundraising and spending for the period from July 1 through Aug. 12. And for the first time, Morse, who is relying almost exclusively on individual donors, outraised Neal, the top recipient of corporate cash in the U.S. House.
In addition to that fundraising, outside groups have thus far spent $2.16 million in the district. The race pits the establishment-backed Neal, who has held the seat since 1989 and chairs the powerful House Ways and Means Committee, against Morse, who is running a campaign from the left on issues like Medicare for All and the Green New Deal.
Morse pulled in $475,846 during the period, all but $4,500 of which came from individual donors. Neal raised $367,405, 68% of which came from political committees such as PACs. Neal spent $1.8 million during the period, leaving him with $2.76 million cash on hand. Morse spent $494,335 during the period, leaving him with $296,724 cash on hand.
Morse’s campaign said he received 11,500 donations during the period, 97% of which the campaign said were donations of less than $200. Among those making small-dollar donations were Morse political appointees and city officials such as Navae Fenwick Rodriguez, executive director of the Holyoke Council on Aging; Marcos Marrero, the city’s director of planning and economic development; and Health Commission chairwoman Patricia Mertes.
https://www.gazettenet.com/Alex-Morse-Richard-Neal-raise-big-money-ahead-of-primary-35852536
