U.S. Sen. Mazie Hirono isn’t up for election until 2018, but she continues to add more cash to her campaign coffers.
Hirono raised $111,352 from April 1 to June 30, according the latest reports filed with the Federal Election Commission.
U.S. Sen. Mazie Hirono gets an aloha kiss from U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, left, who many believe will challenge Hirono in 2018.
Cory Lum/Civil Beat
She only spent $48,711 during the same time period, leaving her with $558,715 in cash on hand.
| FEC Report | Total Receipts | Total Disbursements | Cash on Hand |
|---|---|---|---|
| July 2016 | $111,412 | $48,711 | $558,715 |
| April 2016 | $29,943 | $41,680 | $496,015 |
| January 2016 | $184,248 | $73,246 | $507,752 |
| October 2015 | $115,837 | $35,854 | $396,749 |
| July 2015 | $75,631 | $48,229 | $316,766 |
| April 2015 | $140,544 | $58,933 | $289,364 |
It’s likely Hirono will need a lot more cash in the coming years. Many political observers expect U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard to challenge Hirono in 2018.
Gabbard’s war chest has a positive balance of $1,883,357, according to the latest data. It’s only expected to grow.
In fact, FEC filings show that from April 1 to June 30, Gabbard took in $420,917 in total receipts.
That’s second only to U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz, who has been the Hawaii delegation’s most prolific campaign fundraiser.
Gabbard hasn’t faced a serious challenger since she was first elected to Congress in 2012. That’s allowed her to sock away a lot of cash for a future run at higher office.
And just this weekend she made an odd plea for more money, saying in a campaign email that she was facing “multiple opponents who are twisting my record in an attempt to win voters. I need your help to defeat them.”
| FEC Report | Total Receipts | Total Disbursements | Cash on Hand |
|---|---|---|---|
| July 2016 | $420,917 | $148,147 | $1,883,357 |
| April 2016 | $143,359 | $75,664 | $1,610,587 |
| January 2016 | $199,987 | $101,923 | $1,542,891 |
| October 2015 | $234,206 | $76,714 | $1,444,827 |
| July 2015 | $236,262 | $98,599 | $1,287,335 |
| April 2015 | $147,590 | $78,717 | $1,149,672 |
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