Congressional fundraising reports stream in
WASHINGTON -- While Americans are rushing to file their taxes before midnight on April 15, political campaigns are putting the final touches on their quarterly fundraising reports, due at the same time.
Just as some people manage to get their taxes done early, a few campaigns appear to have no interest in pulling a late night and hitting send to the Federal Election Commission as midnight nears.
So far, 3rd District U.S. Rep. Erik Paulsen, 6th District U.S. Rep. Tom Emmer, both Republicans, and 8th District U.S. Rep. Rick Nolan, a DFLer, have filed their reports.
Paulsen has raised the most so far, bringing in more than $400,000 in the three months ending on March 31. His campaign has more than $1.4 million cash on hand.
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Emmer, who is serving his first term, raised "nearly $280,000" according to a press release from his campaign.
So far, Democrats have given little indication that they plan to target either seat next year.
The one Minnesota seat Democrats do appear interested in is the 2nd District, currently represented by Republican John Kline. Two DFLers, Angie Craig and Mary Lawrence, are vying for the party's endorsement there. While neither has to file a formal report with the FEC until July, Lawrence announced that she had raised approximately $215,000 and loaned her campaign an additional $300,000.
Craig said in a press release that her campaign has raised more than $200,000 since her campaign launched two weeks ago.
Nolan, who had a hard-fought and expensive re-election campaign last year, raised more than $270,000 and has $227,000 in the bank.
Neither of the state's U.S. senators is up for re-election in 2016.