Inside 5th District candidate Christina Hale's war chest
Inside 5th District candidate Christina Hale's war chest
The Democratic candidate notches another record-setting quarter.
By Adam Wren and design by Kris Davidson
FIRST IN IMPORTANTVILLE: Indiana 5th District Democratic candidate Christina Hale raised an eye-popping $541,000 in the second quarter, amassing her largest fundraising haul yet, with 94% of her contributions totaling $100 or less. The former state representative and candidate for lieutenant governor now has $726,000 cash on hand.
The record-setting fundraising figure for Hale—more money than any Democratic campaign in the district has raised in a single quarter, a record she set herself back in October with $325,000 raised—is the latest sign the suburban Indianapolis district is up for grabs.
Hale, who faces Republican State Sen. Victoria Spartz, leads the race 51%-45%, according to her own internal polling, which was released on the final day of the fundraising period. The poll caused political handicapper Sabato’s Crystal Ball to change the race rating to toss-up from leans Republican. It also showed former Vice President Joe Biden leading President Trump by 10 points, 53%-43%. Trump won the district in 2016 by 12 points.
The contours of the general election race will likely focus on healthcare, both candidates have said. National pundits are watching the race closely because it could be an indicator of the president’s standing among suburban voters. More importantly, it could decide which party controls the House of Representatives.
Spartz hasn’t posted her fundraising numbers ahead of the July 15 Federal Election Commission deadline.
“This campaign is powered by grassroots supporters who believe we need more problem solvers in Washington,” Hale said in a statement to IMPORTANTVILLE. “Hoosiers want leaders who will work across the aisle to lower health care costs and expand economic opportunity for everyone. I have a proven record of working with both parties to get things done, and I’ll continue doing just that in Congress."
Good Friday morning, and welcome to IMPORTANTVILLE.
WHAT VP PENCE TOLD THE BLACK AND BLUE RALLY AT FRATERNAL ORDER OF POLICE LODGE #5 IN PHILADELPHIA: “I’m proud to say my own family's been backing the blue for quite a while. My uncle was a police officer in Chicago for 25 years. And I'll never forget when we'd make the long drive up from a small town in southern Indiana, drive up to the big city of Chicago -- when I'd see my uncle come out with his uniform on and his sidearm on, my brothers and I would just look up and marvel. He was one of the heroes of my youth. And, frankly, I need to tell all of you if you need to be reminded: You are all heroes every day... .But we live in a time when the radical left is presenting the American people with one false choice after another. Like lately, we've been hearing people say that we've got to choose between funding our police and funding our communities.”
HAPPENING TODAY
10:30 a.m. Former South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg will host a virtual Biden for President roundtable in New Hampshire on the candidate’s economic recovery plan for working families in N.H.
1:30 p.m. Indiana Republican Party Chairman Kyle Hupfer announces results of the four-way primary contest for the attorney general nomination.
AROUND IMPORTANTVILLE
Gov. Eric Holcomb closed the second quarter with $8.05 million cash on hand, raising $1.48 million in less than a month. “As Governor Holcomb focused wholly on leading Indiana through this pandemic, he made the call in March to pause all active campaigning and fundraising,” state party chairman Kyle Hupfer said in a statement. “Hoosiers’ vigorous support let us restart this campaign in a robust position, and today as Indiana is getting back on track, we’re able to report a historically strong position and more than $8 million in the bank.”
Democratic nominee for Indiana Attorney General Jonathan Weinzapfel raised $968,678.20 since launching last year, including $172,883.70 in the second quarter. The campaign has $720,000 cash-on-hand. “Despite the pandemic, an economic slowdown and a very competitive nomination battle, we’ve continued to raise the funds necessary to win this race in the fall, no matter who our opponent might be," said Ann Bochnowski, Weinzapfel for Attorney General Chair, in a statement. The haul is more than the four Republican candidates raised in the first quarter combined.
THE BUTTIGIEG BEAT
Buttigieg signed with an agent: CAA and Brillstein Entertainment Partners, who “will work with him to amplify his series of public policy initiatives.”
IMPORTANTVILLE READS
Peter Nicholas, The Atlantic: “Mike Pence’s Plan to Save Trump—And Himself”
For the moment, Pence needs to help salvage a campaign whose prospects look bleak. Trump has made the race a referendum on him. Part of Pence’s role is convincing voters that there’s something in it for them. In the coming months, he will spend several days a week visiting crucial swing states, a campaign adviser told me. Pence will approach each state as if he’s running to be its governor, zeroing in on local issues important to voters’ daily lives, the adviser said, and he’ll try to showcase the federal grants and other benefits the Trump administration has dished out. He’ll also talk about the stakes in broader terms, if past speeches are a guide. At the president’s rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma, last month, Pence predicted that Joe Biden would appoint “activist” judges, weaken border security, and harm the economy through expanded government regulation.
That’s all for today. Thanks for reading—and have a good weekend.
