Former Rep. Tom Malinowski (D-Ringoes) was always a strong fundraiser when he ran for the 7th congressional district, and his new campaign for the 11th congressional district is looking to be no different.
Malinowski, one of nine Democrats competing to succeed Gov.-elect Mikie Sherrill, raised more than $500,000 since he launched his campaign last week, a gigantic sum for a Democratic House primary.
“I’m humbled and inspired by the outpouring of support from people across New Jersey who want to continue fighting for our democracy, our freedoms, and our future,” Malinowski said in a statement. “I never have and never will take corporate money – corporate lobbyists are why healthcare costs too much and too little gets done. I’ll stand up to Trump and I’ll only answer to you.”
Malinowski’s campaign said that none of his totals came from self-funding or were transferred over from prior campaigns for Congress. (After losing re-election in 2022, Malinowski converted his old fundraising account into a political action committee supporting liberal candidates in school board races.)
During his time in the 7th district, Malinowski raised $6.3 million for his 2018 campaign, $7.5 million in 2020, and nearly $9 million in 2022. He dramatically outraised his GOP opponents each time, though it wasn’t enough to save him in 2022 in a redrawn district.
Part of the calculus behind his new campaign for the 11th district, which he will soon move into, is that those fundraising skills will outstrip what any of his opponents can pull off, and so far that seems to be true.
Passaic County Commissioner John Bartlett (D-Wayne), who entered the race the day before Malinowski, raised more than $350,000 during his first few days of campaigning. Two other Democrats running for the district, Morris Township Committeeman/former Mayor Jeff Grayzel and Obama administration alum Cammie Croft, had raised $340,000 and $188,000, respectively, as of the end of September, though Grayzel’s total includes a fair bit of self-funding.
Other candidates in the crowded Democratic field have not yet announced any fundraising numbers, among them Essex County Commissioner Brendan Gill (D-Montclair), who starts out the race with more establishment support than anyone else.
