Sen. Bob Casey’s campaign touts strong start to 2024 fundraising

U.S. Sen. Robert P. Casey Jr. is staring down the barrel of the toughest re-election he’s ever faced, and he’s trying to raise funds like he knows it.

The Casey campaign on Thursday announced a top-line number of $3.2 million in contributions through the just-completed third quarter reporting period, which it noted marks the second straight report in which the incumbent Democrat will post a number exceeding any single quarter from his 2018 campaign.

For some context, in the corresponding quarter six years ago, FEC filings show the Casey campaign took in $2.2 million. Casey’s Senate colleague John Fetterman, who became a prodigious fundraiser through the course of his 2022 race, raised $2.7 million through the summer of 2021.

So by several measures, this is a solid start. And, for Casey, it needs to be.

Casey is seeking a fourth term in the Senate in 2024.

He is expecting a stiff challenge from Republican frontrunner David McCormick, who was narrowly defeated by Dr. Mehmet Oz in the 2022 GOP primary, a result that over the last year has generated a severe case of buyer’s remorse within the Pa. GOP establishment.

McCormick’s campaign, which was not immediately available for comment for this report, has not yet released any fundraising numbers of its own for the 2024 cycle.

But with the full support from the state’s GOP donor base and the potential for high national interest in Pennsylvania as one of the states that could swing the U.S. Senate back to Republican control, it’s pretty apparent that he’ll have the resources to get his message out, too.

Which brings us back to Casey, who hasn’t really been seriously threatened in his last two statewide campaigns.

According to Open Secrets, an independent clearinghouse for campaign finance information, Casey’s 2018 re-election campaign fell outside the top 10 for Senate race spending in that cycle, somewhat of an oddity for a big swing state like Pennsylvania.

That likely won’t be the case in a race against McCormick — who raised more than $20 million in his 2022 primary campaign alone, including more than $14 million of his own funds. And if the race stays competitive? The Fetterman v. Oz race here in 2022 had total candidate spending of $123.8 million.

So the 2024 cycle is a different world for Casey — starting with fundraising.

Casey’s full filing was not made available, and doesn’t have to be posted with the Federal Election Commission until Oct. 15.

But a Democratic Party source familiar with the numbers noted Casey’s 2023 numbers — including $7.3 million in cash on hand — are so far running ahead of Democratic candidates in other swing states like Michigan, Wisconsin and Arizona.

The Casey campaign also touted signs of grassroots strength in the numbers, noting that 90 percent of all the summer month contributions received were under $50, and the list of contributors includes 13,500 new donors.

“We are proud of the team and support we are building across Pennsylvania to re-elect Senator Casey in one of the most competitive races in the country,” said Tiernan Donohue, Campaign Manager for Bob Casey for Senate.

“Bob Casey has always had Pennsylvania’s back on the issues that matter most to Pennsylvanians, and now they’re going to have his.”