Monica Vernon and Jim Mowrer Outraise Incumbents Rod Blum and David Young

Iowa looks to play an important role in control over the U.S. House of Representatives this November. If 2016’s 1st Quarter fundraising reports are any indication, Republicans face some real problems in the Hawkeye State. Iowa’s two most-vulnerable incumbents, Republican first-termers Rod Blum and David Young put up smaller fundraising totals than some of their potential Democratic opponents.

In Iowa’s 1st District, Monica Vernon reported raising $335,052 in the 1st Quarter. Blum raised $292,991 this quarter. This marks the fourth quarter in a row that Vernon has outraised Blum. The incumbent Republican still enjoys a cash-on-hand advantage of $1,273,400 to Vernon’s $774,631, largely thanks to the $500,000 loan Blum gave himself back early last year.

In the 3rd District that covers Des Moines and Council Bluffs, Jim Mowrer recorded his best quarter in this district yet, bringing in $294,339. That bested Young’s $224,440 for the quarter. Still, like in the 1st District, Young retains a cash-on-hand lead of $956,096 to Mower’s $437,635.

Those numbers can’t make Republicans in Iowa feel very comfortable for their two incumbents being heavily targeted in this year that’s looking increasingly favorable to Democrats. Either Donald Trump or Ted Cruz at the top of the ticket for Republicans could make life difficult for Young and Blum. Already getting beat in fundraising to potential opponents could signal a lack of enthusiasm for the Republican duo.

Vernon and Mowrer are in the midst of their own competitive primaries to actually get to the one-on-one face-off with the Republicans in the general election.

In the 1st District Pat Murphy continues to struggle with fundraising in comparison to Vernon. He brought in $55,782 in the 1st Quarter of 2016, leaving him with $88,477 on hand. Murphy is still very well-known with the activists most likely to vote in the June primary and will have to rely on that familiarity to overcome Vernon a second time in a row.

Mowrer faces some financial competitiveness in the 3rd District primary from businessman Mike Sherzan, who has now loaned his campaign just under $300,000. Sherzan brought in $24,921 in contributions this quarter, while he loaned himself another $98,000. He ends with $205,861 cash-on-hand, a decent amount to finish out a full campaign in the primary stretch. Desmund Adams raised $23,570 this quarter, but is overall in debt.

For some reason it doesn’t appear the FEC website has the reports listed yet for the 4th District. We’ll do another post once those are out.

1st District:

Monica Vernon
1st Quarter Raised: $335,052
1st Quarter Spent: $169,399
COH: $774,631
Total Campaign Raised: $1,290,136 ($125,800 loans)

Pat Murphy
1st Quarter Raised: $55,782
1st Quarter Spent: $53,800
COH: $88,477
Total Campaign Raised: $203,120 ($10,000 loans)

Rod Blum
1st Quarter Raised: $292,991
1st Quarter Spent: $54,997
COH: $1,273,400
Total Campaign Raised: $1,366,412 ($500,000 loans)

3rd District:

Jim Mowrer
1st Quarter Raised: $294,339
1st Quarter Spent: $96,356
COH: $437,635
Total Campaign Raised: $642,875 ($850 loans)

Mike Sherzan
1st Quarter Raised: $122,921 ($98,000 loans)
1st Quarter Spent: $137,347
COH: $205,861
Total Campaign Raised: $350,506 ($298,000 loans)

Desmund Adams
1st Quarter Raised: $23,570
1st Quarter Spent: $24,832
COH: $2,644 (plus $11,110 in debt)
Total Campaign Raised: $57,992

David Young
1st Quarter Raised: $224,440
1st Quarter Spent: $50,735
COH: $956,096
Total Campaign Raised: $1,212,083

by Pat Rynard
Posted 4/18/16