New York Republican Representative George Santos has raised approximately $150,000 for his re-election campaign from April through June, according to filings with the Federal Election Commission. However, most of the funds were used to repay loans from his past congressional bids. Only three of the roughly 50 donors reported living within Santos’s Queens and Long Island district, with the majority residing in California. Some donors even stated that they contributed money as a joke. Santos had previously given his own campaign over $700,000 in personal loans.
The fundraising figures for Santos, who is facing federal criminal charges, were described as weak for a candidate in a competitive swing district. His campaign is expected to face significant challenges as both Democrats and fellow Republicans attempt to remove him from office. Zak Malamed, a Democratic candidate for Santos’s seat, reported raising nearly three times Santos’s total, while Republican primary challenger Kellen Curry raised over $200,000.
Santos’s fundraising totals were also overshadowed by other frontline Republicans in New York. Representative Mike Lawler, who narrowly won a seat in the Hudson Valley, raised just over $900,000 during the three-month period, making him one of the most successful freshman fundraisers in the country.
The recent contributions to Santos’s campaign from an unconventional mix of donors are likely to be examined by federal prosecutors and the House Ethics Committee. Donors included individuals such as a part-time cashier from Georgia, students from Pennsylvania and California, a masseuse from Texas, and a member of a stage crew from New York. Some donors cited Santos’s opposition to the Chinese Communist Party as their motive for contributing.
Santos has repeatedly tied his fundraising efforts to his opposition to the Chinese Communist Party, as well as his support for exiled Chinese billionaire Guo Wengui. Critics argue that this fundraising strategy may attract scrutiny from legal authorities.
As campaign contributions in New York become increasingly important due to a potential redrawing of congressional districts, stockpiling cash is crucial for Republican incumbents. A midlevel appeals court recently ordered a redraw that could make some seats virtually unwinnable for Republican incumbents. The case will be decided by New York’s top court later this year.
Santos, who declared his intention to run for re-election in April, was indicted on 13 felony counts the following month, including wire fraud, money laundering, and theft of public funds. While he has pleaded not guilty, his support from House Republican leadership has diminished, with Speaker Kevin McCarthy stating that the seat should be held by another Republican.
Although Santos’s fundraising totals for this quarter were an improvement compared to the previous quarter, in which his campaign only brought in $5,300 and refunded thousands of dollars to donors, his expenses remained relatively limited. Despite paying legal and consulting fees, he did not report expenses related to staff or office rentals.
Santos currently has $55,275.72 on hand, with $530,000 in unpaid personal loans reported. However, a $100,000 loan from last quarter was not listed in the most recent filing. It is clear that Santos will face significant challenges as he seeks re-election in the coming months.