It was another brobdingnagian quarter for the human fundraising machine and now Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-Wyckoff) has a behemothic $7,119,926 in his campaign warchest, easily making him the most successful House fundraiser in New Jersey political history.
The two-term congressman raised a towering $918,357 during the last three months of 2019, bringing his total haul last year to a colossal $3,456,996.
But wait, there’s more.
On top of that, Gottheimer has raised $1,837,943 so far this cycle for House Democrats.
Gottheimer has raised an elephantine $15,037,775 since filing as a congressional candidate in March 2015.
The gargantuan fundraising totals brandished by Gottheimer obliterate what should be impressive 4th quarter numbers amassed by some of his potential Republican opponents in a district that is politically competitive.
Montvale mayor Michael Ghassali has raised $861,900 and has banked $728,588. Investment banker Frank Pallotta reported raising $510,899 in 2019 and has $382,483 cash-on-hand.
Donald Trump carried New Jersey’s 5th district by one percentage point in 2016– a 4,089-vote plurality. The district has 6,514 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.
Gottheimer’s opponent in the Demcoratic primary, Glen Rock councilwoman Arati Kreibich, has not yet released her 4th quarter fundraising numbers.
