FL-Sen: Gov. Charlie Crist (R) ended the quarter far above expectations. Last week, we learned he had raised over $3 million. This early estimate was impressive, but we now know his final total was $4.3 million through the end of June. This is more than ten times what his primary opponent, Marco Rubio, raised.
CA-45: Steve Pougnet (D), who is challenging Rep. Mary Bono Mack (R), raised $200,000. Bono Mack is a top target for the DCCC. Obama won her district last year, but Bono Mack carried 58% of the vote. Democrats may find this one isn’t worth the effort.
KY-Sen: Jack Conway (D) raised $1.32 million in the second quarter. Conway faces Daniel Mongiardo in the Democratic primary. Mongiardo hasn’t announced his totals. Conway will have more than the combined totals of both his potential Republican adversaries. Trey Grayson raised $603,000, and Sen. Jim Bunning likely raised less than that.
Fundraising standouts (via Politico):
CT-04:
Rep. Jim Himes (D-Conn.) so far leads the pack of House Democratic fundraisers, raising $520,000 in the last quarter and ending June with $760,000 cash-on-hand.
Himes, who defeated veteran GOP congressman Chris Shays last year, is expected to face a serious challenge from Connecticut Senate Minority Leader John McKinney in 2010.
FL-24:
In Florida, freshman Democratic congresswoman Suzanne Kosmas announced she raised $350,000 for the quarter, giving her over a half-million dollars in her campaign account. Already three Republican elected officials have jumped in the race against her, believing she’s at risk of losing an Orlando-area district that voted for John McCain.
OH-18:
And Rep. Zack Space (D-Ohio) raised $280,000, and has banked over $825,000. Republicans don’t yet have any candidates running against Space, but believe his vote on a cap-and-trade energy bill will be costly in his coal-dependent district. The party is hoping that GOP state senator Jimmy Stewart, their leading recruit, will decide to challenge him.
Last quarter, Space had his sights set on a Senate campaign – and raised over $430,000 – but he now is more concerned with holding onto his Republican-leaning eastern Ohio House seat.