Altman raises $283k in Q3, breaks $500k since entering NJ-7 race

Sue Altman raised $283,000 in the 3rd quarter of 2023, and has raised $500,000 since entering the race in May – a strong total that puts her in a solid position in the Democratic primary to take on Rep. Tom Kean Jr. (R-Westfield) in the 7th congressional district.

“I am so grateful for the outpouring of support we’ve received from all across the state,” Altman said in a statement. “The residents of New Jersey’s 7th congressional district are tired of being represented by a career politician who has spent his time in Congress enabling the most extreme elements of his party. We are proud to be running a grassroots campaign that takes no corporate PAC money and is overwhelmingly funded by New Jersey residents, not special interests.”

According to Altman, the former director of the New Jersey Working Families Party, her campaign received 803 contributions during the 3rd quarter, and 83% of her donors were New Jersey residents.

The big test now will be to see how Altman’s two Democratic primary opponents, former State Department official Jason Blazakis and Roselle Park Mayor Joe Signorello, fared during the 3rd quarter, which is typically a difficult fundraising period in off-years. Blazakis and Signorello both entered the race within the last three months, so this quarter will be the first indication of their financial strength.

Altman’s campaign has already gotten some notable endorsements, including the Communications Workers of America and several other labor leaders and activists. If Altman emerges from Q3 as the best-funded candidate in the race, that could be what it takes to get more endorsers off the fence.

Whoever does win the Democratic nomination will be in for an expensive fight against Kean, who unseated two-term Rep. Tom Malinowski (D-Ringoes) last year. As of June 30, Kean had an intimidating $1.5 million cash on-hand, a total which will undoubtedly grow further when the congressman releases his newest campaign finance report in the coming weeks.

Tomorrow will be the six-year anniversary of Malinowski’s initial campaign launch; during his first quarter in the 2018 race, Malinowski raised $528,000, similar to Altman’s four-month haul. He then went on to beat several other Democrats during the county convention season and, eventually, defeat Rep. Leonard Lance (R-Clinton).