Can Bernie Sanders’ fundraising success extend downballot? We’re about to find out. On Wednesday, Sanders sent out fundraising emails to his massive list on behalf of three Democratic candidates who are involved in competitive primaries: ex-Assemblywoman Lucy Flores, who is hoping to take on Republican freshman Cresent Hardy in Nevada; Zephyr Teachout, who is seeking a competitive open upstate New York district; and state Sen. Pramila Jayapal, who is campaigning for a safely blue open Seattle seat.
There are some signs that Sanders’ supporters are willing to donate to likeminded candidates. Teachout raised a hefty $530,000 in the last three months while law professor Tim Canova, who is trying to unseat DNC Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz in South Florida, brought in $557,000; neither contender had any direct help from Sanders. However, Teachout already had some name recognition with liberal donors from her 2014 primary bid against Gov. Andrew Cuomo, and she also received help from establishment-oriented politicians like Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand. Canova also has the advantage of running against someone as high-profile as Wasserman Schultz, whom many Sanders supporters are angry with over what they perceive as favoritism she has shown toward Hillary Clinton in the presidential race.
By contrast, Flores and Jayapal’s contests haven’t attracted anywhere near the same amount of attention yet. If Sanders’ can help generate a fundraising bonanza anything like what Teachout and Canova have seen, it will be a huge help for them. Flores struggled to raise money in 2015 (her first quarter report is not available yet), and she’ll need plenty of resources if she wants to win the June primary. Flores is facing state Sen. Ruben Kihuen, who has the support of labor, and powerful Sen. Harry Reid, and non-profit president Susie Lee, who is well-funded.
We’re also waiting to get a look at Jayapal’s fundraising haul from her first months in the race to succeed retiring Rep. Jim McDermott. Jayapal is competing with King County Commissioner Joe McDermott (no relation to the congressman) and state Rep. Brady Walkinshaw in August top-two primary. Obama won Washington’s 7th Congressional District 79-18 and it’s pretty likely that Democrats will grab the two general election spots. Teachout herself is facing Livingston Town Councilman Will Yandik in June for New York’s 19th Congressional District; the winner will need to work hard to pickup this 52-46 Obama Hudson Valley seat.