Republicans hold fundraising lead in district 2

Democrats in the second legislative district have a cash edge over Republican challengers, though GOP candidates there raised more.

Former Assemblyman Vince Polistina, now seeking retiring State Sen. Chris Brown’s (R-Ventnor City) seat in the upper chamber, reported bringing in $139,389.96 in 29-day pre-election reports filed with the Election Law Enforcement Commission.

That’s nearly 10 times as much as primary rival Seth Grossman, a former congressional candidate and onetime Atlantic County Freeholder who raised just $14,569 for his off-the-line Senate bid in the most recent filings.

Polistina has held onto the bulk of his money, spending $33,139 and leaving $106,250.94 in his war chest.

Grossman, meanwhile, has spent $7652.51 and has $6,916.65 left in the bank. The former congressional candidate also has $11,650 in campaign. He’s loaned his campaign $6,697.16, with $6,625 lent in the most recent filing.

There’s a wide gap in fundraising among Polistina’s Assembly Running mates. Former Deputy State Attorney General Claire Swift reported raising $76,938 in her 29-day filing, the most of any candidate save Polistina.

She’s spent just $12,214.62 and has $64,723.38 left in the bank. Former Atlantic City Mayor Don Guardian, the other Republican seeking an Assembly seat, has raised a comparatively meager $12,543. He spent $26,670.67 and has $9,872.33 in his war chest.

Fundraising among the race’s Democrats has been slower.

Assemblyman Vince Mazzeo (D-Northfield), who is running for Brown’s seat, reported raising $30,447.09 and spending $2087.61. Most of that money, $1,463, was transferred to the Democrats’ joint committee.

Assemblyman John Armato (D-Buena) raised just $12,400, though he spent just $52 and has $16,188.16 in reserves. Both Mazzeo and Armato have $22,111.40 in campaign debt.

Atlantic County Commissioner Caren Fitzpatrick raised the least out of any candidate in the race, bringing in just $6060.40. She spent $65.38 and has $5995.02 in her war chest.

The bulk of the Democrats’ fundraising came through their joint committee, which brought in $99,772.86 over the fundraising period. Most of that money, $84,709.86, came from in-kind contributions from the Democratic Assembly Campaign Committee.

The joint committee has spent $99,541.32, leaving just $2844.97 in reserves.

These fundraising figures don’t include spending or fundraising by independent expenditures groups or party organizations.