I live in Nazareth, where NorCo Council member Jeff Warren (a Democrat) is trying very hard to unseat incumbent Joe Emrick (a Republican) in Pennsylvania's 137th state house district. This district includes the townships of Bethlehem, Hanover (5th ward), Palmer, Upper and Lower Nazareth, and the boroughs of Nazareth and Tatamy. It is supposedly a purple district, but in recent years, the townships have become more Democratic. I believe this is the most competitive state house race in Northampton County. The cascade of mailers and social media ads indicates that both parties are pouring money into this contest. So far, I have received over 40 pieces of mail in this race alone. On Friday, the final campaign finance reports were due before the election. I was able to see Warren's report on Sunday. Emrick's report is still unavailable on the state website, but I should be able to get it on the state or county site on Monday. Until then, let me tell you about Warren's campaign finances.
The House Democratic Campaign Committee (HDCC) has poured more than $1 million into Jeff Warren's effort to unseat Republican state Rep. Joe Emrick in Pennsylvania's 137th Legislative District, according to Warren's latest campaign finance report. The extraordinary expenditure suggests that House Democrats have identified this Northampton County contest as an important battleground in the November 3 election.
Warren's 75-page Second Friday Pre-Election Report, covering June 9 through October 19, discloses $1,078,837 in in-kind contributions from HDCC, the political organization devoted to electing Democrats to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. The Pennsylvania Democratic Party provided another $128,324.69 in in-kind assistance. Together, these two Democratic organizations supplied $1,207,161.69 in campaign assistance, accounting for more than 99% of Warren's reported in-kind contributions.
This support dwarfs the $359,078 Warren received in direct monetary contributions during the same reporting period.
Combining cash and in-kind assistance, Warren's campaign reported $1,575,646.77 in contributions between June 9 and October 19.
That figure does not include a subsequent $11,314.28 contribution from a Massachusetts resident disclosed in an October 20 late-contribution report.
The financial disclosures paint a picture of a legislative race that has attracted resources extending well beyond Northampton County.
### What HDCC's $1 Million Actually Purchased
In-kind contributions are goods or services provided to a political campaign without the campaign itself necessarily paying for them. Here, they are mostly for media. The reported contributions began during the summer with expenditures including $25,000 for media production on July 1 and a series of $8,000 digital media contributions throughout July and August. They then increased. Individual HDCC entries include $57,500 for media production, $67,385 for linear and digital media, $118,692.50 for media, and three separate contributions of $131,192.50 each for media.
These in-kind contributions represent approximately 68.5% of Warren's entire $1.576 million in reported monetary and in-kind contributions during this period. For every dollar Warren reported receiving in direct monetary contributions, HDCC supplied approximately $3 in additional campaign assistance. The investment strongly suggests that House Democrats believe Emrick's seat is competitive and worth defending or pursuing with substantial institutional resources.
### Political Committees Dominate Warren's Cash Fundraising
Warren's direct monetary fundraising was also heavily dependent on political organizations. His latest filing identifies $359,078 in monetary contributions, including $241,150 from political committees. That represents approximately 67.2% of all cash contributions received during the reporting period.
The largest disclosed monetary contributor was Philadelphia-based Committee for a Better Tomorrow, which gave Warren $100,000 on August 29. That single contribution represented nearly 28% of his entire monetary fundraising for the reporting period. This committee is made up of Philly-area trial lawyers who oppose attempts to restrict personal injury lawsuits.
Other major political committee contributors included:
| Contributor | Amount |
|---|---:|
| AFSCME PEOPLE | $25,000 |
| Conservation Voters of PA Action Fund | $25,000 |
| PAC for America's Future | $25,000 |
| PSEA PACE | $15,050 |
| Change PA | $15,000 |
| IBEW Local 375 PAC | $5,000 |
| Climate Cabinet PAC | $5,000 |
| Friends of Matt Bradford | $5,000 |
The contributions reflect substantial support from organized labor, environmental organizations and Democratic political committees.
AFSCME PEOPLE, PSEA PACE and IBEW Local 375 are among the labor-related political organizations appearing in the filing.
Conservation Voters of Pennsylvania Action Fund and Climate Cabinet PAC represent another identifiable source of support: organizations interested in environmental and climate-related public policy.
### Out-of-State Contributions Are Substantial
Although Warren wants to represent just one Northampton County legislative district, a significant portion of his campaign contributions comes from outside Pennsylvania. At least $131,889.63 in monetary contributions from individuals and political committees listing addresses outside Pennsylvania.
That represents approximately 36.7% of his $359,078 in monetary receipts. Among the significant out-of-state political contributors are AFSCME PEOPLE and PAC for America's Future, both listing Washington, DC, addresses. Each contributed $25,000. Climate Cabinet PAC, Active Ballot Club General Fund, States Win, Vote Save America and Everytown for Gun Safety are among the other organizations listing addresses outside Pennsylvania. Individual contributions also came from California, Texas, New York, Oregon, Massachusetts, Washington and several other states.
Obviously, this is no longer simply a campaign financed by residents of the legislative district. It has attracted support from organizations and individuals with interests extending beyond Pennsylvania.
One of many reforms suggested by readers of this blog has been to bar money from outside the area in which candidates are running.
### Another $11,314 Arrives After Reporting Deadline
Warren's fundraising has continued after the October 19 closing date of his regular pre-election report.
A separate 24-hour contribution filing identifies an $11,314.28 contribution from Peter Francis of Marion, Massachusetts, received October 20.
### Warren Spends Heavily, Ends Period With $40,539
Despite the extraordinary resources being directed toward his election, Warren's own campaign reported a relatively modest cash balance at the close of the reporting period.
He began June 9 with $105,285.85. After receiving $359,078 in additional monetary contributions, his campaign had $464,363.85 available. It spent $423,824.58, leaving $40,539.27 on October 19. The campaign reported no outstanding debts. So Warren spent most of the cash available to him during the reporting period.
### A Campaign That Has Changed Dramatically
Warren's previous campaign finance report showed him entering the summer with $105,285.85 in available cash. Emrick, by comparison, had approximately $140,340 available as of June 8, according to the earlier review of his campaign finances. He had a slight edge. Whether this is still true will be determined when I get to his finances.
### Why This Race Matters
The 137th District contest pits Warren, a Democrat, against Emrick, the Republican incumbent.
The House Democratic Campaign Committee's role is especially noteworthy given the importance of individual legislative seats in determining control of the Pennsylvania House. The organization's investment of more than $1 million in a single candidate suggests that Democratic strategists see an opportunity worth pursuing aggressively.
Whether this influx of money translates into sufficient votes to defeat Emrick will be decided November 3. It certainly should help.
Easton City council, Hanover board of supervisors, now the statehouse, no thanks Jeff. Surprised it wasn't written about how he moved into Bethlehem Township to just run against Emrick. Has Warren ever had a real job? Boscola fired him, what does that say?
ReplyDeleteHe's terrible!
DeleteThink back 2 years if the dems win that is where we are going
ReplyDeleteCheat, rob or buy - that is our corrupt political system.
ReplyDeleteThis is the most succinct and ACCURATE description of politics in America today. Unfortunately, both political parties have elected people sitting in office who got there because of this ‘rot.’
DeleteIn my opinion, today’s Democrat Party is the biggest violator of the principles once associated with good government. This registered Independent dropped his ballot off in Saucon Valley just this morning. No votes from me went to any Democrat this time.
People are sleeping . If democrats take the statehouse they will fulfill their dream of making PA like the rest of the north east, high taxes, high cost of living, and overbearing government regulation.
ReplyDeleteThey would love to get rid of the flat tax. Luckily, it would have to pass in two consecutive legislative sessions to accomplish that due to the uniformity clause in the state constitution. Shapiro going to run for president so hopefully no tax increases.
DeleteTruly would be a mistake to elect Warren, a “yes man “ with no common sense. He has proven this on council by siding with Keegan or supporting her ideas at every turn. Of course his money comes from outside sources. Who in their right mind would support him in the Lehigh Valley? Wonder how much those guitar signs cost? It will be interesting to see and hear what he has to say now about the Gracedale debacle.
ReplyDeleteLOL definitely not an independent thinker.
DeleteI lost my oldest brother to a heartless, careless drunk driver. My brother never used drugs and didn't drink - ever. It didn't matter. A drunk crossed a center line and hit him head-on. The only comfort we had is that he broke nearly every bone in his body and died instantly. He left a wife, three kids, and a mother who grieved every day for the last 15 years of her life. I can't vote for Warren and you shouldn't either. He's never apologized for his. I've never forgiven him.
ReplyDeleteThis guy is a drunk another great candidate by the democrats.
ReplyDeleteEmrick is arrogant & useless, BUT Warren is the absolute worst possible candidate for the job. He's had numerous DUI's and has been terrible in any office he has held, just like Zrinski. It's a choice between bad & terrible.
ReplyDeleteWarren is the male version of Koo Koo Keegan.
ReplyDeleteAnother loser put up by the my Party. Between him & Brooks, its sad that these are the best candidates we could find. We haven't had a decent Rep. since Grucela.
ReplyDeleteI believe that in local elections money from outside the municipality should be prohibited. All it does is corrupt the system.
ReplyDelete100%. This is becoming ridiculous. The idea of localized representative government is that the community is supposed to represent itself in the broader scheme of things. Dumping huge amounts of "foreign" money into local elections makes the democratic process a farce.
DeleteI completely understand that Jeff Warren is a seriously flawed candidate. That’s already well documented everywhere you look if you follow local politics. But what I am not seeing here are reasons why we should vote FOR Joe Emrick, in my mind an equally flawed candidate. I am a right leaning independent these days and the following is a serious question. What legislative accomplishments can Joe Emrick claim during his multi-term stint in the State House? Not grants or constituent services…almost every state senator and rep is good at those things. But their core function is to legislate. What legislation has he written or co-sponsored that has become law? Or even had broad support?
ReplyDelete