With first quarter fundraising surge, Cunningham outraises Tillis for the first time

WASHINGTON — Democrats are plowing cash into North Carolina congressional races in the hopes of sending a much bluer delegation to the U.S. Capitol next year.

Democratic donors — including Hollywood producers and influential politicians — helped U.S. Senate candidate Cal Cunningham to outraise North Carolina Republican Sen. Thom Tillis in the first quarter of this year. The race promises to be among the most closely watched and expensive political contests of 2020 as Democrats hope ousting Tillis will help them flip control of the upper chamber of Congress.

Down-ballot Democratic candidates vying for open seats in the Tar Heel State have also been raking in campaign cash early this year. The 2nd and 6th Districts surrounding Raleigh and Greensboro — newly drawn after a gerrymandering challenge — are expected to favor Democrats, and the Republican incumbents are retiring from Congress.

Contributions continue to roll in, even as the COVID-19 pandemic has upended the U.S. economy and drastically altered how politicians can campaign in the months leading up to the high-stakes November elections.

Read more: http://www.ncpolicywatch.com/2020/04/23/with-first-quarter-fundraising-surge-cunningham-outraises-tillis-for-the-first-time/