Page 4 - ARUBA TODAY

A4 U.S. NEWS
Monday 13 august 2018

Against all odds: Democrats pour money into longshot races

By PAUL J. WEBER with roughly 100 other Re-
Associated Press publican House and Sen-
HOUSTON (AP) — Thara ate candidates.
Narasimhan, who hosts an For her part, Hegar doesn’t
Hindu radio program in inveigh against Trump while
Houston, has already given passing the hat: She didn’t
$1,200 to a Democrat run- even mention his name
ning against Republican while speaking to a living
U.S. Rep. Pete Olson, who room of about 50 support-
once drove around his ers at the Austin fundraiser.
solidly conservative Texas She said afterward that she
district with a “NEVER HILL- understands Trump was
ARY” bumper sticker on his motivating some of the do-
pickup. Her plans to do- nors but she preferred to
nate even more bewilder talk to them about other is-
friends. sues.
“It’s not the question of why “They want to fight against
I have to support a failing racism. They want to fight
candidate,” said Narasim- against bullying and in-
han, mingling at a fundrais- timidation and things like
er for Democrat Sri Kulkarni that. And they’re labeling
on a sweltering Texas sum- those things with a person’s
mer night. “Unless you put name,” Hegar said. “I think
some faith in it, you’re not it’s more effective to fight
going to make it work.” against those themes.”
The November midterms Near Fort Worth, Demo-
are on pace to shatter re- crat Jana Lynne Sanchez
cords for political spend- has raked in more than
ing. While more than $1 $358,000 and has cam-
billion raised so far nation- In this Sunday, July 29, 2018, photo, Thara Narasimhan, left, talks with Democrat for Congress paigned through summer
ally is helping finance bat- candidate Sri Kulkarni during a fundraiser in Houston. with more money than her
tlegrounds that are poised Associated Press heavily favored Repub-
to decide control of Con- districts have so far raised hard. In few places is the surge of lican opponent, Ronald
gress, restless donors aren’t at least $100,000. In 2014, At a crowded house par- money more evident than Wright.
stopping there — they’re only one cracked six fig- ty in suburban Austin for in Texas. At the top of the They’re both running to
also putting cash into rac- ures. Democrat MJ Hegar, Jana ticket, Rep. Beto O’Rourke replace GOP Rep. Joe
es and places they never The average cost of win- Reeves found a seat on a is outraising Republican Barton, who represented
have before to help under- ning a House seat is more kitchen bench that was a Sen. Ted Cruz in a state the district for more than
dog Democrats. than $1 million. And in Tex- long way from her own Hill where Democrats have not 30 years but abandoned
Examples include: a district as, some candidates still Country home that isn’t won a statewide race since plans for re-election after
home to the Dallas Cow- lag substantially behind even in Hegar’s congres- 1994. Seven Democrats a nude photo of him circu-
boys’ stadium and held by despite their early hauls in sional district. Hegar has also outraised their GOP lated online.
the GOP since 1983; the places where Republicans raised more $1.7 million in opponents between April Sanchez bemoaned the
South Carolina district of have been invincible. large part due to a pol- and June in districts held by “fish fries and pancake
outgoing U.S. Rep. Mark But driving donors’ eager- ished six-minute campaign Republicans, bolstered by breakfasts” that candi-
Sanford; and a reliably Re- ness to open their wallets ad called “Doors” that got primary runoffs that forced dates used in the past to
publican Southern Califor- to longshot candidates, attention online and en- campaigns to double raise money and spends six
nia district that President supporters say, is a mix of ticed donors like Reeves to down on fundraising. hours a day on the phone,
Donald Trump won by 15 anti-Trump enthusiasm and give her a hand. Hegar is among the most competing with a half-
points. optimism following upsets “Even though it’s hopeless? successful. The military vet- dozen campaigns that she
All are places where Dem- like Democrat Doug Jones’ You know why?” Reeves eran is running against Re- said are “sucking up most
ocrats are outraising their last year in a Senate race said of the giving to Hegar publican Rep. John Carter, of the money” from big do-
Republicans opponents — in Alabama. Campaigns, and other Democratic who was re-elected to an nors. On her list of ways to
a feat that while perhaps meanwhile, say donors are challengers. “Even though eighth term in 2016 by 20 spend that money: hiring a
not changing the conven- simply responding to finally maybe my paltry money points over a Democrat campaign manager who
tional wisdom about their having better candidates in can’t do much, I still want who only raised $16,000 to- has previous flipped a Re-
chances, is succeeding in historically lopsided districts to support these people in tal. Now she has the atten- publican district.
giving their campaigns un- that previously attracted the deep red districts, be- tion of Trump’s campaign “People who say, ‘Money
usual viability. In Texas, 15 only fringe contenders who cause the Democrats (at team, which last month doesn’t vote,’ have never
Democratic challengers made little effort to pro- party headquarters) aren’t announced it would finan- run a campaign,” Sanchez
running in Republican-held fessionally fundraise or run going to do it.” cially help Carter along said.q