McCann campaign in debt

Republicans should be competitive in the race for New Jersey’s 5th district congressional seat.  They held the seat for 36 years until Scott Garrett lost it to Democrat Josh Gottheimer in 2016 – the only district in the state that Donald Trump carried while also electing a Democratic congressman.

But the candidate of the Bergen and Passaic Republican organizations, attorney John McCann, has barely raised any money.  So far, McCann has raised just $170,691, including $125,000 in a loan he made to himself.  POLITICO New Jersey first reported that the cash-starved McCann paid himself interest on that loan.

Facing a primary challenge from former Bogota mayor Steve Lonegan, McCann has just $113,773 cash-on-hand, and has debts of $144,691, including his own loan.

Gottheimer and Lonegan have not yet filed their first quarter reports with the Federal Election Commission.