Tom Waring, the Wire
State Rep. Steve Santarsiero, who is seeking the Democratic nomination in the 8th Congressional District, has raised $222,000 from more than 600 contributors.
“To have raised this much, this early is quite a statement,” said Aubrey Montgomery, a campaign adviser. “With so many contributors, there is enormous room for growth, as early supporters continue to give to support Steve throughout the campaign and new supporters continue to join.”
More than half of the contributions were $100 or less, and more than 99 percent of the contributors are Pennsylvanians.
“I’m humbled by the swell of support for this campaign,” Santarsiero said. “My №1 priority has always been working to get the job done, whether we’re fighting to create jobs, tackling campaign finance reform or protecting our environment. I plan to bring that same approach to Washington and I’m honored to have the help of so many to get there.”
The 8th Congressional District will be an open seat in 2016 with the retirement of Republican Rep. Mike Fitzpatrick.
Santarsiero will face Shaughnessy Naughton, a scientist and owner of a family publishing business, in the primary. She ran in 2014, but lost in the primary by 817 votes to Kevin Strouse, who had most of the party behind him. Strouse went on to lose to Fitzpatrick.
Naughton has been endorsed by former Gov. Ed Rendell.
