Congressional candidates fill coffers in latest FEC filings

CAPITAL REGION — The latest campaign finance disclosures by upstate congressional candidates reveal expected advantages for incumbents.

The latest filing deadline for fundraising, expenditures and cash-on-hand totals through the end of June passed on Sunday.

In the 20th Congressional District, incumbent U.S. Rep. Paul Tonko, D-Amsterdam, had $668,324 in cash on hand after raising $768,710 so far.

His challenger, Joe Vitollo, R-Coeymans, did not file a report because he has not raised the $5,000 minimum to trigger the reporting mandate, he said.

In the hotly-contested 19th District, incumbent U.S. Rep. John Faso, R-Kinderhook, and challenger Antonio Delgado, D-Rhinebeck, continued their fundraising race.

Faso, running for a second term, had $1,261,614 in cash on hand, having raised $2,314,821 in a race that will likely involve significant ad spending. The district, which is larger geographically than the state of Connecticut, has consistently been considered one of the most competitive in the country, according to tracking services like the Cook Political Report.

Delgado, a Schenectady native, raised more than his six opponents in the primary, reporting $661,742 in cash on hand along with an overall fundraising advantage of more than $400,000 on Faso; he has raised $2,752,169 so far. The Delgado campaign released its first TV ad of the general election last week.

In the 21st District, incumbent U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-Willsboro, had $1,588,389 in cash on hand heading into the general election. The youngest woman ever elected to the House, Stefanik has raised $1,976,106 so far in the cycle.

Her opponent, Tedra Cobb, D-Canton, reported $93,047 in cash on hand. Cobb, who won her primary race handily, has raised a total of $453,301 so far in her bid for Stefanik’s seat.

The next filing deadline for the candidates will be Oct. 15.

Reach Daily Gazette reporter Jake Lahut at 518-322-2358, [email protected] or @JakeLahut on Twitter.