Solomon leads fundraising among Pa. statewide candidates ahead of April primary • Pennsylvania Capital-Star

With no incumbent seeking reelection this year, money is flooding into the Democratic and Republican primary campaigns for Pennsylvania Attorney General.

But the five Democrats contending for the nomination to run in November, may be splitting what donors are willing to give, leaving the top fundraiser with a fraction of what former Attorney General Josh Shapiro had at this stage in 2020.

Democrats also hope to unseat Republican incumbents to win the offices of state treasurer and auditor general, with donors backing a pair of candidates in the Democratic primaries for each position. The winners will challenge Treasurer Stacy Garrity and Auditor General Tim DeFoor in November. 

In the attorney general race, State Rep. Jared Solomon (D-Philadelphia) was the leading Democratic fundraiser. He reported about $1.06 million in cash on hand at the end of the first reporting period before the April 23 primary. 

Most of that was raised last year, with just over $170,000 in contributions between Jan. 1 and March 4, according to Solomon’s report filed with the Department of State.

For the same reporting period in 2020, Shapiro reported more than $3.5 million in an uncontested primary before he defeated Republican Heather Heidelbaugh in the general election.

The other four Democratic attorney general candidates reported more modest war chests:

• Delaware County District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer raised about $233,000 and reported a balance of $518,836. Nearly half of Stollsteimer’s support came from political action committees including Philadelphia-region labor unions.
• Joe Khan, the former Bucks County solicitor and federal prosecutor, reported raising $109,000 for a balance of $342,343. 
• Former Auditor General Eugene DiPasquale raised nearly $321,000 and reported a balance of $179,965
• Keir Bradford-Grey, who served as Philadelphia Chief Public Defender, raised $50,532 and reported a balance of $114,064.

York County District Attorney David Sunday is the Pennsylvania Republican Party’s endorsed candidate for attorney general. Sunday reported about $162,000 in contributions and a balance of $177,250.

Sunday’s largest donors, accounting for nearly a third of his fundraising so far this year, were the Commonwealth Leaders Fund backed by Republican mega-donor Jeff Yass and the political action committee backed by Pennsylvania Skill Game maker Pace-O-Matic. Both of the committees gave $25,000 to Sunday’s campaign.

State Rep. Craig Williams (R-Delaware), is running against Sunday and reported raising about $113,000 and a balance of $114,000 after spending $41,307.

State Rep. Ryan Bizzarro (D-Erie) is the Democratic Party’s endorsed candidate for state treasurer. Bizzarro raised $148,127 and had a balance of $430,230.

Former substance abuse counselor and program director Erin McClelland, running against Bizzarro, reported $5,175 in contributions and a balance of $100,608. That includes a $100,000 loan from McClelland to her campaign committee.

State Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta (D-Philadelphia) is the endorsed Democratic candidate for auditor general. Kenyatta reported raising nearly $48,000 and a balance of $135,855.

Lehigh County Auditor Mark Pinsley, who is running against Kenyatta, reported raising $10,330 and a balance of $60,891.

Originally published at penncapital-star.com,by Peter Hall