Campaign filings: Gillibrand has $7.2M, Schumer, $23.8M
Bruce Blakeman, who is running against Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., speaks with reporters at the Capitol in Albany, N.Y. (Jan. 20, 2010) Credit: AP
WASHINGTON - New York's two Democratic senators are amassing a wall of cash, with campaign finance reports Friday showing Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand has $7.2 million in the bank and Sen. Charles Schumer $23.8 million.
Since January 2009, Gillibrand has raised $10.7 million and Schumer has raised $14.8 million, campaign filings show.
Gillibrand, in her first election for her appointed position, raised $1.9 million in the past quarter and now has three times as much in cash as her nearest Republican opponent.
That opponent, David Malpass, an economist and former Republican presidential aide, reported nearly $2.4 million in cash on hand at last quarter's end, after raising $200,000 and loaning himself $1.5 million.
Another Gillibrand opponent, Bruce Blakeman, a lawyer and former Nassau County presiding officer, reported $236,247 in the bank, after raising $151,156 in contributions.
Schumer continues to build his war chest by collecting $2.2 million in the past quarter.
Schumer's Republican opponent, security consultant and former CIA officer Gary Berntsen, raised $42,215 and loaned his bid $50,000 last quarter, and had $63,980 in cash on hand.
Meanwhile, the late Thursday filings of two Republicans in the race to challenge Rep. Tim Bishop (D-Southampton) suggest an expensive race in the Sept. 14 primary.
Chris Cox, son of New York State GOP chairman Ed Cox, reported raising $200,000 and loaning himself $500,000, giving him $837,800 in cash on hand.
George Demos, a former SEC attorney, reported taking in $50,715 in donations and having $304,405 in the bank.
Those reports compare with businessman Randy Altschuler's $1.8 million in the bank and Bishop's $1.4 million in cash.
In the race against Rep. Carolyn McCarthy (D-Mineola), GOP-backed Francis X. Becker Jr., a Nassau County legislator, reported receipts of $51,171 that included $38,759 in his own money, and $15,295 in the bank.
Rep. Gary Ackerman (D-Roslyn Heights) raised $338,265 and had $1.1 million in cash. GOP opponent Liz Berney raised $12,763 and has $31,814, and Democrat challenger James Milano raised $11,710 and has $45,868.
Rep. Pete King (R-Seaford), who has no opponent, raised $236,949 and has $1.7 million in the bank.
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