Sue Altman raised more than $400,000 in her first two months running for New Jersey’s 12th congressional district, a total that’s likely to land her among the crowded Democratic primary’s top fundraisers.
“I am beyond humbled by the support our campaign has received since launching 8 weeks ago,” Altman said in a statement. “With the most experience out of anyone in this race, we have built an unmatched fundraising operation and grassroots campaign. After this powerful quarter, we now have the resources necessary to communicate to voters our decade-long record of fighting for the working people of New Jersey.”
Altman’s past roles include leader of the New Jersey Working Families Party, state director for Senator Andy Kim, and Democratic nominee for the neighboring 7th congressional district, all of which are undoubtedly giving her fundraising a boost. During her 2024 campaign, Altman raised a total of $6.2 million and outraised Rep. Tom Kean Jr. (R-Westfield), though Kean ended up defeating her in the competitive district.
None of Altman’s competitors have announced their most recent fundraising numbers – the 1st quarter of 2026 ended just yesterday, and reports aren’t due until April 15 – but her $400,000 total will probably end up near the front of the pack. One of Altman’s top opponents, surgeon Adam Hamawy, said in early February that he’d raised nearly $350,000 so far; East Brunswick Mayor Brad Cohen had raised around $280,000 as of the end of 2025.
Thirteen Democrats in total are running for the Central Jersey seat left open by retiring Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-Ewing), but most of them got off to a slow fundraising start. Even some experienced politicians like Assemblywoman Verlina Reynolds-Jackson (D-Trenton) and Somerset County Commissioner Shanel Robinson (D-Franklin) reported raising less than $100,000 in the 4th quarter of last year.
If their fundraising didn’t pick up this quarter, it will be a major political handicap in a district like the 12th, which spans the extremely expensive New York City and Philadelphia media markets. A key threshold for each candidate will be whether they have enough money to go on TV, and even larger fundraising hauls like Altman’s will only be enough for small advertising investments.
That may make the Democratic contest for the safely blue seat more susceptible to involvement from outside groups and super PACs, as happened in the special Democratic primary for the 11th district earlier this year and in a number of other races around the country.