The metric shouldn’t be overstated – we say here over and over that while money is important in political campaigns, it isn’t all, and candidates outspent by their opponents win more often than you would think.
Still, a chart of House races – races involving an incumbent seeking re-election, not an open seat – comparing candidates’ cash on hand (according to the most recent reports), got our attention. (It was compiled at the website Swing State Project.) That’s partly because of the race at the very top of the list nationally, the number one race for a challenger with much more cash on hand than the incumbent:
Idaho’s 1st District, where Democrat Walt Minnick has $327,909 on hand, to incumbent Republican Bill Sali‘s $124,191 – 264% more. Only one other race in the country (in a Texas district) has nearly so large a challenger advantage.
However, in fourth place on the list, we do find another Northwest race: Democrat Darcy Burner, with $921,615 on hand, to incumbent Republican Dave Reichert‘s $698,035, in the Washington 8th.
There are just 10 races in the country featuring an challenger who has more money banked than does the incumbent; those are the only two in the Northwest.
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