Pascrell has $1.7 million warchest

Rep. Bill Pascrell (D-Paterson) has $1,715,785 cash-on-hand as he prepares to seek re-election to a thirteenth term as the congressman from New Jersey’s 9th district.

Pascrell raised $135,923 in the second quarter of 2019 and has brought in $374,420 so far this year.

The Passaic County Democrat faces primary challenges from climate change advocate Zina Spezakis and Alp Basaran, a former corporate lawyer who now heads his own investment firm.

Basaran reported raising $28,532 — $25,000 from a personal loan – and has $4,007 remaining in his campaign account.  Most of his money has gone to Revolution Messaging, a Washington political consulting firm that played a major role in Bernie Sanders’ 2016 presidential campaign.

Spezakis’ 2nd quarter fundraising numbers were not yet available.

In 2012, Pascrell spent more than $2.9 million to win the Democratic primary in New Jersey’s 9th district after a new map pitted him against a fellow Democrat, eight-term incumbent Steve Rothman (D-Englewood).