Kreibich raises $100k for race against Gottheimer

A Democrat mounting a challenge from the left against the Human Fundraising Machine of the U.S. House of Representatives says she has raised more than $100,000 during the first two months of her campaign.

Glen Rock Councilwoman Arati Kreibich announced on July 29 that she would take on two-term Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-Wyckoff) in next year’s Democratic primary in New Jersey’s 5th district.

Gottheimer raised $907,658 during the second quarter of 2019 and has reported $5,683,966 cash-on-hand in his July report to the Federal Election Commission.

Kreibich says that her campaign has more than 1,200 donors so far.

“Our goal has always been to build this campaign with grassroots support and that’s exactly what we’re doing,” said Kreibich. “I know this is a marathon, not a sprint, but this is an incredible start and clearly, our message of big, bold, necessary change resonates.”

Gottheimer filed to run against Rep. Scott Garrett (R-Wantage) on March 11, 2015 and reported raising $218,656 in his first 20 days as a congressional candidate.

Kreibich’s fundraising numbers mirror those of former U.S. Department of State official Stephanie Schmid, who entered the race for the Democratic nomination to take on Rep. Christopher Smith (R-Hamilton) in the 4th district just one month ago.

Gottheimer raised $7,002,979 and spent $2,952,240 during his 2018 campaign and defeated former Cresskill councilman John McCann by 41,291 votes in a district almost evenly divided between Democrats and Republicans that Donald Trump carried by one percentage point.

A former Clinton White House speechwriter and Microsoft executive, Gottheimer ousted seven-term Rep. Scott Garrett (R-Wantage) in 2016 by a 51%-47% margin.  He outspent Garrett, $4,782,462 to $2,411,570 and outspent him by $400,250.