Payne has 6-1 cash advantage over Oakley

Rep. Donald Payne, Jr. (D-Newark), who had struggled to raise money during parts of his political career, is now the Gottheimer of Newark after raising $988,773 against two primary challengers in the Democratic primary for Congress in New Jersey’s 10th district.

Payne brought in $130,920 between April 1 and May 18.  He has spent $940,818, including $397,664 during the 48-day period that followed the first quarter reporting cycle.

Between a huge cash advantage, organization lines in Essex, Hudson and Union counties, high-profile support from prominent progressive leaders, and running the table on labor union endorsements, Payne has significantly narrowed any path for another candidate to overtake him in the Democratic primary.

Challenging Payne in the Democratic primary is Imani Oakley, who has raised $425,511, including $36,528 between April 1 and May 18.  Oakley has spent $389,383, including $188,238 between April 1 and May 18.

Payne has $219,194 cash-on-hand, while Oakley has $36,127 in her campaign account.

A third candidate, Essex County College sociology professor Akil Khalfani, has not reported raising or spending anything.

The mountebank Oakley has held a series of short-term jobs in New Jersey politics, but all three of her employers – U.S. Senator Cory Booker, Assemblywoman Britnee Timberlake (D-East Orange) and the New Jersey Working Families Party – have endorsed Payne.