Rep. Summer Lee (D-PA) has raised a reported $1.59 million for reelection in Pennsylvania's 12th Congressional District, compared with $65,000 for Republican challenger James Hayes. That gives Lee a roughly 24-to-1 fundraising advantage in a race rated Solid Democratic.
The cash gap is wider still. As of Sept. 30, Lee reported $1.68 million in cash on hand and no debt, while Hayes reported $2,478 in cash and $12,000 in debt. Lee defeated William Parker in the May 19 Democratic primary by approximately 62 percentage points. Hayes ran unopposed in the Republican primary.
The candidates' reported donor profiles differ significantly. Physicians contributed $91,000 to Lee, followed by self-employed donors ($26,000), lawyers ($21,000), and consultants ($18,000). Physicians alone contributed more than seven times the $12,000 attributed to Hayes' four leading occupational categories combined.
Business owners contributed $3,800 to Hayes, followed by chairmen ($3,500), homemakers ($2,500) and lawyers ($2,000), reflecting support from business owners, executives and legal professionals.
Donors identified as not employed or retired reportedly accounted for 42% of Lee's itemized individual contributions ($330,000), compared with 25% of Hayes' ($6,000). Contributions from other committees reportedly accounted for 17% of Lee's receipts, compared with 8% of Hayes'.
Outside groups have reportedly spent $35,000 in Pennsylvania's 12th District race, with most of that spending supporting Lee. Those expenditures are separate from candidate fundraising totals. Although fundraising alone does not determine election outcomes, Hayes held approximately 0.15% of Lee's available campaign cash as of Sept. 30, leaving him at a substantial financial disadvantage.
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