Gottheimer, the Human Fundraising Machine, has warchest of almost $7.9 million

Virus or not, the earth continues to tremble when the Human Fundraising Machine announces his quarterly fundraising numbers.

Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-Wyckoff) raised a pharaonic $903,807 during the first three months of 2020 and has $7,877,744 cash-on-hand as he prepares to seek re-election to a third term as the congressman from New Jersey’s 5th district.

So far this cycle, Gottheimer has raised a massive $4,360,803.  His gargantuan fundraising haul since announcing his first congressional bid five years ago now stands at $15,941,582.

He faces a primary challenge from the left in July from Glen Rock Councilwoman Arati Kreibich.  Kreibich has not yet released her 1st quarter numbers.

Kreibich has struggled to raise money for her challenge to Gottheimer.  She raised just $63,193 during the last three months of 2019 and had $105,977 in the bank.  Her Q1 numbers will show whether she is viable going forward.

Former Cresskill Councilman John McCann, who won 42% against Gottheimer in 2018, has just $3,948 cash-on-hand, according to reports he filed on Tuesday with the Federal Election Commission.

McCann faces investment banker Frank Pallotta in the GOP primary.  Pallotta, who Q1 fundraising numbers are not yet public, reported raising $510,899 in 2019 and ended last year with $382,483 cash-on-hand.

Teacher James Baldini and perennial candidate Hector Castillo are also seeking the Republican nomination.

Donald Trump carried New Jersey’s 5th district by one percentage point in 2016– a 4,089-vote plurality.  The district 8,401 more Democrats than Republicans.

That’s a shift from a GOP registration advantage of 2,370 on Election Day 2016 when Gottheimer, a former Clinton White House speechwriter and Microsoft executive, ousted seven-term Rep. Scott Garrett (R-Wantage) in 2016 by a 51%-47% margin.

When the 5th district was drawn following the 2010 U.S. Census, there were 13,085 more Republicans than Democrats.