Malinowski raises more than $1 million

Democrat Tom Malinowski raised $479,211 during the first quarter of 2018, bringing him to a total of $1,007,682 in his campaign to unseat Republican Rep. Leonard Lance.

A former Assistant U.S. Secretary of State in the Obama administration, Malinowski has $739,944 cash-on-hand, according to reports filed with the Federal Election Commission.

“It speaks volumes that an incumbent who has been in Congress for 10 years cannot outraise a first time candidate. Voters in the 7th district have given Leonard Lance a chance and he has failed to deliver for them year after year. They are done rewarding career politicians who lack the will and influence to get anything done. He’s lost the support of his constituents. That must be why so many of his contributions come from corporations,” said Malinowski’s Campaign Manager, Colston Reid.

Malinowski is the front-runner for the Democratic nomination after winning organization lines in Union, Somerset, Essex, Hunterdon, Morris and Warren counties.  Linda Weber, once viewed as the leading Democratic contender, dropped out of the race after Malinowski defeated her by one vote in Union County; two other challengers who had raised experienced fundraising success, Scott Salmon and Lisa Mandelblatt, withdrew and endorsed Malinowski.

In the June primary, Malinowski still faces attorney Goutam Jois and 2016 Lance opponent Peter Jacob.

Lance has not yet filed his first quarter FEC report.

Editor’s Note: This story was updated to include comment from the Malinowski campaugn.