A.G. Gancarski
Incumbent U.S. Rep. John Rutherford, who has represented Northeast Florida’s 4th Congressional District since the 2016 election, rolled out fourth-quarter fundraising numbers Wednesday.
The Congressman has a cash on hand advantage over likely Democratic challenger Donna Deegan, but he did not raise as much as her during the last quarter of 2019.
Rutherford raised $123,850, compared to Deegan, a former broadcaster and cancer survivor, who raised $204,000 in her first quarter in the race.
Most of Rutherford’s money came from corporate PACs and the Jacksonville donor class.
The congressman is spending also — $70,000 over the last three months of 2019.
He raised $352,750 in the current cycle, having spent $242,656 of that, with $496,911 on hand.
Rutherford, a former three-term Jacksonville Sheriff, faced his toughest challenge in a battle royale-style 2016 GOP primary to replace outgoing Rep. Ander Crenshaw.
Since then, a combination of strong name identification, a deep red district and underwhelming challengers, as well as a robust Republican plurality have sheltered Rutherford. He typically garners roughly 70% of the vote.
GOP voters comprise 286,013 of the district’s 577,173 registered voters, compared to 155,073 Democrats, with independents and third-party registrants making up the balance.
Deegan’s $200,000 haul, while far beyond what either general election challenger to Rutherford mustered, likely will have to be only the beginning.
The closest recent comparison, in terms of a Democrat challenging for a GOP seat, was Democrat Nancy Soderberg challenging for what was ultimately the congressional seat vacated by current Gov. Ron DeSantis.
Soderberg raised $350,000 in her first quarter, on her way to raising over $3 million, as well as help from outside groups.
In the end, it didn’t matter, even in the 6th Congressional District, a map somewhat more favorable to Democrats than CD 4.
U.S. Rep. Mike Waltz won by nearly 15 percentage points.
Though Deegan, a former broadcaster, has cachet in Jacksonville that few Democratic candidates might have, she has yet to be subject to the rigors of a competitive and oppo-rich campaign.
Her ability to respond to GOP machinations will be tested.
Both Rutherford and Deegan will face primaries.
Democrats Monica DePaul and Chris Eagle have raised nothing.
Likewise, on the Republican side, perpetual candidate Gary Koniz has not raised money. Another Republican, Erick Aguilar, has just over $5,000 on hand.
12 comments
Seber Newsome III
January 29, 2020 at 11:58 am
Wake up people, Donna Deegan is a LEFT LEANING SOCIALIST, in my opinion . She was a avid supporter of known socialist Andrew Gillum, who was a friend of George Soros. North Florida does not need someone who will try to take away our guns and the second amendment. Someone who will teach trans gender in schools to young children. This is all. just my opinion , not to be construed as facts.
Dennis Jay
January 29, 2020 at 4:51 pm
Seber thinks if you put something in ALL CAPS it must be true. Donna Deegan is a former Republican. She’s a moderate, unless you think allowing people to have healthcare and requiring universal background checks are radical ideas. The proposals she advocates are overwhelmingly supported by local citizens — even Republicans. She has served the public well for many years and would do well in representing us in Congress.
Seber Newsome III
January 29, 2020 at 7:54 pm
She also supported known socialist and puppet of George Soros, Andrew Gillum, now deny that?
Jane
January 29, 2020 at 9:53 pm
Andrew Gillum who said he would raise taxes by a billion dollars and use California as a model for Florida found a willing puppet in “parking lot Donna” or “anything for a buck Donna”! Ugh!
Pedro
January 29, 2020 at 11:27 pm
Rutherford gets his donations from pharmaceutical companies and the NRA, do you think he will ever vote in support of affordable healthcare or commonsense gun legislation? These are things most of us want.
Sonja Emily Fitch
January 30, 2020 at 7:00 am
The only good thing about Rutherford is that he is no longer Sheriff of JSO. Rutherford left behind the most corrupt racist sexist cops. Rutherford has only allegiance to MONEY MONEY MONEY. Poor stupid Sheriff Williams does not have the skills to clean up the corruption in the top levels of JSO. JSO COPS COMMITTED DOMESTIC TERRORISM AND THE PUNISHMENT WAS RETIREMENT.
RUTHERFORD IS A DAMN LOOOOOSER.
Bonnie Hendrix
January 30, 2020 at 8:58 am
I will try Seber’s approach and see if it helps him understand. DEEGAN IS A CAPITALIST!
She believes in affordable healthcare and a sensible path created in a bipartisan way to get there.
She believes 30 Trillion dollars in debt is too much and our country should not go bankrupt while big business gets richer. Earn a profit but pay your fair share.
She stands for sensible gun laws. Meaning background checks that ensure the current laws that prevent people not legally eligible to own guns, felons and mentally incompetent, are enforced by checking before you sell the firearm. This in no way takes guns from law abiding citizens.
I don’t think she falls in line with the deep state conspiracy theory that Rutherford believes but I kind of like a leader that can discern fact from fiction.
Seber Newsome III
January 30, 2020 at 12:31 pm
Well Bonnie, do you think those committing the murders in Jacksonville, got their guns at a gun show or a store that sells guns, no, they are criminals, you can have all the background checks you want, and the the criminals will still get guns. But, you dont want to face that fact. Parking Lot Donna supported a know socialist, Andrew Gillum, not deny that one Bonnie.
FBC Jan
January 30, 2020 at 9:48 am
Rutherford’s low numbers are likely due to his political and fundraising consultants spending all of their time with attorneys preparing to be “interviewed” about their role in the growing JEA scandals.
Rutherford is a good man who has hired bad people. Many of us are praying that he will change course and surround himself with better people.
RN1st
January 31, 2020 at 6:45 pm
Show me your 5 closest friends/advisors and I will know who you are. Just saying.
Patricia
February 1, 2020 at 11:39 am
She only supported Andrew Gillum to get the black vote in her own election effort……She just wants another pay check she has no real agenda to help any community.
Jason
February 2, 2020 at 8:28 pm
I’m not comfortable about either of these candidates. To me, whoever raised the most, doesn’t matter. Just means you owe someone something. I looked at the FEC. She did get money from PAC’s. So has Rutherford. I’ve seen and spoke to Erick Aguilar. He’s got my vote. This man comes to our community. He listens. Funny thing; neither of the 2 mentioned will debate him. He’s about advancing families. http://www.erickforcongress.com
This man will put government back into the hands of the people.
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