Dem Senate Challengers Best 4 GOP Incumbents in 2nd Quarter Fundraising

Democratic challengers in competitive Senate races beat several Republicans incumbents in second quarter fundraising.

Republican Senators Mitch McConnell (Ky.), Ted Stevens (Alaska), John Sununu (N.H.) and Gordon Smith (Ore.) were all out raised by their Democratic challengers. Three other incumbent Republican Senators were able to edge challenging Democrats.

Democrats also lead in three open seat Senate races vacated by Republican Senators.

Possibly the most surprising figure is the $3.1 million raised by Democratic businessman Bruce Lunsford, who topped Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell’s $2.8 million in Kentucky’s Senate race.

Other races show Democrats raising substantial sums in state where they have not been competitive in some time. In Alaska, for example, Anchorage Mayor Mark Begich (D) toped longtime, though scandal plagued, Sen. Ted Stevens (R) by over $250,000.

A list of second quarter fundraising results in 14 competitive Senate races is after the jump.

Alaska
Begich (D) – $1 million
Stevens (R) – $745,000

Colorado
M. Udall (D) – $2.04 million
Schaffer (R) – $1.4 million

Kentucky
Lunsford (D) – $3.1 million
McConnell (R) – $2.95 million

Louisiana
Landrieu (D) – $1.541
Kennedy (R) – $1.546

Maine
Allen (D) – $1 million
Collins (R) – $1.06 million

Minnesota
Franken (D) – $2.26 million
Coleman (R) – $2.35 million

Mississippi
Musgrove (D) – $814,000
Wicker (R) – $822,000

New Hampshire
Shaheen (D) – $1.6 million
Sununu (R) – $1.1 million

New Jersey
Lautenberg (D) – has not released
Zimmer (R) – $273,000

New Mexico
T. Udall (D) – $2.1 million
Pearce (R) – $1.2 million

North Carolina
Hagan (D) – $1.54 million
Dole (R) – $1.69 million

Oregon
Merkley (D) – $1.42 million
Smith (R) – $1.35 million

South Dakota
Johnson (D) – $560,000
Dykstra (R) – $380,000

Virginia
Warner (D) – $3 million
Gilmore (R) – $480,000