As the November elections draw closer, candidates in various districts are ramping up their campaign efforts. In Brooklyn’s 17th Senate District, the focus is on the re-election campaign of Democratic State Senator Julia Mark, who currently leads the fundraising race with an impressive $330,000. This amount far exceeds the $16,856 raised by her Republican opponent, Joe Chen.
Data from Ballotpedia reveals that as of July 25, Mark has raised a total of $726,911 for her campaign. So far, she has spent $339,547, leaving her with a solid war chest of $387,364. In comparison, Chen has gathered only $40,646, with expenditures amounting to $23,790, leaving him with just over $10,000.
A closer look at the details shows that Mark’s biggest contributor is the state Comptroller’s office, which donated $172,815. Additionally, she transferred $142,103 from her previous campaign. Mark has positioned herself as a champion for the working class, receiving endorsements and support from various unions, including a $6,000 contribution from the Communications Workers of America (CWA) and $5,000 each from the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) and the Chinese American Physicians Association (Caipa).
Conversely, Chen’s largest single donation comes from FM Alliance Group, which contributed $5,000. The bulk of his fundraising has been from individual donations within the Chinese community, ranging from $20 to $1,500.
Looking beyond this race, the 26th Senate District is also generating attention, where incumbent Andrew Gournades is facing off against Republican Vito LaBella for the second time. On the fundraising front, Gournades has a significant advantage with $176,686 compared to LaBella’s $4,147, although LaBella has garnered notable support from the Chinese community.
Experts point to a potential “red wave” trend in some Chinese districts in South Brooklyn. While Democratic candidates have considerable financial backing, the influence and support of the Republican party should not be overlooked, especially in the 17th District, where the Chinese voter demographic could play a pivotal role. As the election date approaches, both candidates are working diligently to secure more support from the Chinese community.
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