Targeted by the GOP, Pa's Democratic U.S. House newcomers fill 2020 war chests

WASHINGTON — Freshmen Democrats from Pennsylvania are just getting settled in the U.S. House, but they continue to rake in campaign cash as they brace for battle again in 2020.

U.S. Rep. Chrissy Houlahan, an Air Force veteran who flipped the 6th District in suburban Philadelphia from GOP control in 2018, has already raised more than $847,000 so far this year for her 2020 race, according to her most recent campaign finance report. Her campaign has $1.5 million in the bank.

“It’s a lot of money,” said Leah Askarinam, an analyst with the nonpartisan newsletter Inside Elections.

Houlahan jumped into the 2018 race expecting to face off against incumbent GOP Rep. Ryan Costello, but he dropped out after the state’s Supreme Court ruled that the congressional districts had been illegally gerrymandered. The new map gave Democrats an advantage in the district and Houlahan cruised to victory over Republican Greg McCauley.

And while it’s early in the cycle, and Houlahan’s race doesn’t yet appear to be competitive, the freshman congresswoman doesn’t seem to be taking anything for granted.

Read more: https://www.penncapital-star.com/government-politics/targeted-by-the-gop-pas-democratic-u-s-house-newcomers-fill-2020-war-chests/


Pa's 'Fab Four' (l-r) U.S. Reps. Chrissy Houlahan, D-6th District; Susan Wild, D-7th District; Mary Gay Scanlon, D-5th District; and Madeleine Dean, D-4th District on the House floor. (Rep. Dean/Facebook)