Campaign finance reports show U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D. Toledo) will face a formidable challenge in 2024 as one of her opponents outraised her in the second quarter, though the 40-year incumbent still has the advantage in available funds.
Defiance Republican Craig Riedel raised $537,951 in the second quarter compared to Ms. Kaptur’s $360,540.
A former three-term state representative, Mr. Riedel, who lost the Republican primary to J.R. Majewski in 2022, spent $80,592, leaving him with $446,609.
Mr. Riedel said the amount raised positions him as the frontrunner in the Republican primary.
"Danette and I are grateful for the trust and support shown by our friends, family, and the community,” he said in a statement that referenced his wife. “Their belief in our ability to lead and bring positive change to northwest Ohio is truly inspiring.”
In addition to the funds raised, Mr. Riedel also received endorsements from Reps. Jim Jordan (R., Urbana) and Max Miller (R., Rocky River).
The two other Republican challengers in Ohio’s 9th Congressional District seat raised considerably less, according to the reports that were due Saturday.
Former Walbridge Mayor Daniel Wilczynski raised $47,630 and spent $33,267, leaving $198,412 cash on hand. Of the money raised in the second quarter, the candidate contributed $3,611, bringing the total amount he has contributed to his campaign to $153,612.
“I am feeling really confident we are in a good position,” Mr. Wilczynski said.
The campaign did a lot of fund-raising at the end of March but focused on meeting people across the district in the second quarter, he said.
Overall, the campaign would like to raise $500,000 for the primary, and with the total raised so far of $257,231, the campaign is on track, Mr. Wilczynski said.
Steve Lankenau, real estate broker who resides in Defiance, raised $43,135 and spent $8,015, leaving him with $60,119. The amount raised includes a $25,000 loan from the candidate.
The campaign fund-raising is on track, Mr. Lankenau said.
"We are doing it one person at a time," he said. "All in all, we feel it is going well."
Mr. Lankenau doesn't intend to spend money now but by the time of primary season, they will have enough money to share his message with voters.
"It is a slow and steady process for us, that's for sure," Mr. Lankenau said. "There is the tortoise and the hare, and we know which one we are."
Ms. Kaptur, who defeated Mr. Majewski in 2022, spent $77,032 in the second quarter, leaving her with $807,771 available.
While he announced that he was withdrawing from the race, Mr. Majewski raised $32,546 and spent $24,735, leaving $7,835 cash on hand.
In Ohio’s 5th Congressional District, Bob Latta (R., Bowling Green) raised $173,000 in the second quarter and spent $128,000, leaving him with a little more than $1 million available. There are no other declared candidates, either Republican or Democrat.
In the 2024 race for Ohio’s U.S. Senate seat, incumbent Democrat Sherrod Brown raised $5 million and spent $2.1 million, leaving him with $8.7 million.
The Brown campaign said he received donations from all 88 counties; of the donations, 95 percent were under $100.
“Ohioans are rallying behind our campaign because they know Sherrod is fighting for them and the Dignity of Work,” campaign manager Rachel Petri said.
“We are grateful to have Ohioans from every corner of the state on Team Sherrod and are ready to carry this enthusiasm through next year to ensure Sherrod can continue putting Ohioans first and standing up to anyone who gets in the way," she said.
State Sen. Matt Dolan (R., Chagrin Falls) raised a little more than $3 million, which includes a $1 million loan from the candidate. He spent $720,891, leaving him with $3.9 million.
Dolan campaign manager Kathi Paroska said 96 percent of the money raised came from Ohio.
“Over the past three months, Matt Dolan has continued to far outpace the current Republican field in cash on hand, grassroots endorsements and support in the polls,” Ms. Paroska said.
“The formidable strength of our campaign and Matt Dolan’s proven record of conservative results clearly shows he is the Republican best positioned to defeat Sherrod Brown, retake the U.S. Senate for Republicans, and get America back on the right track," Ms. Paroska said.
Businessman Bernie Moreno raised $2.2 million and spent about $750,000, leaving him with $1.5 million available. He also earned the endorsement of U.S. Sen. J.D. Vance (R., Ohio).
“I am grateful and honored by the groundswell of support for our campaign,” Mr. Moreno said in a statement.
“Ohioans have had enough of the same old thing and insider politics of Sherrod Brown and the Washington establishment," Mr. Moreno said. "I’m proud to be an America First political outsider who can bring a message of conservative change to Washington.”
Republican Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose is expected to enter the race this week. Recently, he has alluded to a pending announcement via social media and press interviews.
First Published July 16, 2023, 3:38 p.m.