Democratic 8th District congressional candidate Hector Oseguera is lauding an over 3-to-1 fundraising advantage over incumbent Albio Sires in the 2nd quarter of 2020, prompting the congressman’s campaign to attack one of the challenger’s donors.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
According to reports filed with the Federal Election Commission, Oseguera raised a total of $39,044 in the second quarter of 2020, while Sires raised $12,501.
“This filing shows people power is much stronger than the legalized bribery of lobbyists and corporations. My opponent raises money by extorting the public service employees of our district, COVID made that scheme impossible to carry out,” Oseguera said in a statement.
“Grassroots donors from across the district recognize that business as usual leaves millions without healthcare or good-paying jobs. Their support of our movement is a testament to how weak my opponent’s support truly is and how much momentum we’ve gained by simply reaching out to people and giving them a choice. It’s why progressive organizations like the New Jersey Working Families Alliance are backing me.”
He also pointed out that out of Sires’ $12,501, just under 20 percent ($2,500) came from individual donors, as opposed to super PACS.
Still, Sires, who has the backing of the state’s top Democrats and about a dozen unions, has significantly more cash on hand: $115,243.27 versus $16,998.42, according to the FEC website.
Furthermore, Sires campaign spokesman JP Escobar asserted that “a major Trump donor” contributed to Oseguera, as well as that the congressman has been more focused on helping constituents than fundraising during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Hector Oseguera calls himself a progressive, but he’s being funded by a major Trump donor and real estate magnate named Robert Verrone who donated $10,000 to Trump’s ‘Make America Great Again’ PAC,” he said, also calling Sires “the real progressive in this race.
“Congressman Sires is much more focused on meeting the needs of his constituents than he is on raising money. His campaign has donated nearly $5,000 to local food banks during the COVID-19 crisis, and he’s worked to pass meaningful legislation like the CARES Act, HEROES Act and most recently the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act in the last few months.”
FEC filings show that Verrone donated $1,000 to Oseguera on January 31st of this year and contributed $10,000 to the MAGA PAC on September 16th, 2015.
With the July 7th primary just days aware, Oseguera and Sires haven’t been shy about standing and trading recently.
