ShareNew Mass. congressional map has reps. raising cash
Steve LeblancMembers of the state's all-Democratic U.S. House delegation are stockpiling cash as they prepare to run in districts that in some cases have been radically redrawn.
One of the more closely watched races in Massachusetts pits incumbent Rep. John Tierney of Salem against GOP challenger Richard Tisei of Wakefield in the expanded 6th Congressional District.
Tierney ended 2011 with $577,545 in his account, more than double the $256,394 in Tisei's account, according to campaign finance reports filed with the Federal Election Commission.
Tisei has noted that he outraised Tierney in the final three months of 2011. During that period, Tierney raised more than $160,000, compared to the more than $300,000 raised by Tisei.
Tisei also pointed out that the bulk of his contributions came from individuals inside Massachusetts, while Tierney relied heavily on contributions from political action committees and supporters outside the state.
"John Tierney has been entrenched in Washington for a long, long time," Tisei said in statement. "That's why most of his financial support is coming from his friends there and not from Massachusetts."
A Tierney spokeswoman said that the bulk of his support over the years has come from individual contributors, and that many of the PACs contributing to him represent workers.
"John received contributions from thousands of individuals across our communities, as well as PAC contributions from teachers, workers, firefighters, and men and women fighting to protect Social Security and Medicare," spokeswoman Kathryn Prael said.
Other district lines have been redrawn more dramatically after Massachusetts was forced to reduce its number of congressional seats from 10 to nine.
The map makes major changes in western Massachusetts, essentially by carving up the 1st District now represented by Democratic U.S. Rep. John Olver, who has announced that he will retire at the end of his term.
U.S. Rep. Richard Neal's district now extends west to include the Berkshires, while U.S. Rep. James McGovern, D-Worcester, picks up communities in two other western counties.
Neal, a Springfield Democrat, reported raised raising $705,419 in 2011, bringing his total as of the start of the year to nearly $2.5 million, the second largest amount.
Former state Sen. Andrea Nuciforo, who represented the Berkshires in the Legislature from 1997 to 2007, is hoping to defeat Neal in the new 1st Congressional District.
The Pittsfield Democrat, who plans to formally announce his candidacy this week, is at a fundraising disadvantage. He had just $136,607 in his account at the end of 2011, with a debt of $35,000.
In the new 2nd Congressional District, McGovern _ who has yet to draw an opponent _ started 2012 with $372,826 in campaign cash.
Another closely watched race is in the newly redrawn 4th Congressional District currently represented by Barney Frank, who has decided not to run again.
Two high profile Democrats _ Bristol County District Attorney Sam Sutter and Joseph Kennedy III, the son of former U.S. Rep. Joseph P. Kennedy II _ have formed exploratory committees but haven't yet jumped into the race.
On the Republican side, Norfolk resident Sean Bielat, who lost to Frank in 2010, is facing off against Republican Elizabeth Childs of Brookline, a former state mental health commissioner.
Bielat reported just $5,856 in cash in his campaign account, with a debt of $32,464, while Childs reported an account balance of $29,201.
Another Democrat, Herb Robinson reported $1,688, with a debt of $8,000.
The incumbent with the biggest account was Edward Markey. The Malden Democrat, whose new 5th Congressional District picked up communities like Ashland, Wayland and Holliston, had more than $3.1 million in his account.
Another closely watched seat is the newly created 9th Congressional District that encompasses southeastern Massachusetts including Cape Cod, Plymouth and New Bedford.
Freshman Democratic Rep. William Keating _ whose hometown of Quincy has been merged into a new 8th Congressional District where Rep. Stephen Lynch of South Boston lives _ has decided to run in the southeastern district.
Keating raised $481,344 in 2011, and still had $304,572 in his campaign account as of the start of 2012.
In what is now the newly redrawn 3rd Congressional District, incumbent Lowell Democrat Niki Tsongas had $291,924 in her campaign account and a debt of $42,903. Republican Jon Golnik, who ran against Tsongas two year ago loaned his campaign money, had $1,878 and a debt of $105,000.
Two other incumbents also head into the campaign year with flush campaign accounts.
In what is now the state's 7th Congressional District _ the first district in Massachusetts where blacks, Hispanics and Asians make up a majority of voters _ Rep. Michael Capuano of Somerville has $346,096 in his account.
And in what is now the 8th Congressional District, Lynch reported $674,240 in his account.