State of the House money race -- part 1

Now that all of the OCPF reports are in, we can get a much better idea of where the Central Mass. races for state house and senate stand and what we can expect between now and election day. Here is the first of two breakdowns of the state house races.

For each contested seat, I’ve listed how much cash was raised in the last two months, how much cash on hand was reported in the pre-election report, and what changes, if any, have been reported since then. Also note that the latest reports include primary donations and spending from August 20 to September 6, so those candidates who had primary opponents may have spent or raised more in this period than unopposed candidates. (Incumbents are listed in italics).

Second Franklin

Candidate	Raised 8/19-10/19	Cash on hand 10/19	Late Contributions	Total Available
Denise Andrews (D-Orange)	$7,381	$4,039	$2,000	$6,039
Susannah Whipps-Lee (R-Athol)	$4,958	$2,880	$6,352	$9,232
Richard Schober (U-Templeton)	$47	$0	$0	$0

Andrews’ $2,000 late contribution came from the Democratic State Committee. $5,352 of Whipps-Lee’s late contribution was from her personal funds. Going back to January 1, Andrews and Whipps-Lee have each loaned over $14,000 to their respective campaigns. Whipps-Lee has also been the beneficiary of over $5,000 worth of mailers provided by the Mass GOP in the last week. Schoeber lists one in-kind contribution: lawn signs from David Roulston, a 2010 Democratic primary challenger of Andrews.

Third Middlesex

Candidate	Raised 8/19-10/19	Cash on hand 10/19	Late Contributions	Total Available
Kate Hogan (D-Stow)	$8,100	$12,527	$0	$12,527
Chuck Kuniewich (R-Hudson)	$1,059	$781	$0	$781

Neither candidate has received money from the state parties, suggesting this race may not be that strongly contested. Over a quarter of the contributions to Hogan have been from Political Action Committees. Bucking the old adage that “political signs don’t vote,” Kuniewich spent over $4,000 of his available cash on campaign signs.

Fourth Middlesex

Candidate	Raised 8/19-10/19	Cash on hand 10/19	Late Contributions	Total Available
Danielle Gregoire (D-Marlborough)	$3,025	$5,715	$0	$5,715
Steven Levy (R-Marlborough)	$12,777	$25,651	$0	$25,651

Levy received a $2,000 from the Republican State Committee in September, while Gregoire has yet to be buoyed by her state organization. In addition to having $25,000 available, Levy invested over $10,000 the last two months on direct mail and postage. Despite Levy’s recent fundraising prowess, he is carrying over $22,000 in loans from his personal account from campaigns going back to 2003.

Sixth Middlesex

Candidate	Raised 8/19-10/19	Cash on hand 10/19	Late Contributions	Total Available
Carolyn Dykema (D-Holliston)	$10,975	$22,221	$0	$22,221
Marty Lamb (R-Hopkinton)	$14,275	$5,283	$0	$5,283

Lamb’s fundraising has been augmented by $3,000 from the Republican State Committee in September; Dykema has not received any such help. Lamb has also spent over $12,000 on mailers and postage in the last two months. from his personal account from campaigns going back to 2003. Dykema has spent $4,000 on consultants and at least as much on events in the district. She has not reported a direct mail campaign, but has more than enough money on hand to do so.

Second Worcester

Candidate	Raised 8/19-10/19	Cash on hand 10/19	Late Contributions	Total Available
Jonathan Zlotnik (D-Gardner)	$3,774	$6,424	$500	$6,924
Rich Bastien (R-Gardner)	$5,978	$2,188	$1,500	$3,688

In addition to the funds here, Zlotnik has reported giving his campaign $1,600 in in-kind contributions (most candidates list their personal campaign spending as loans, not gifts). Bastien has been propped up in part by $2,450 in in-kind services provided by the Marlborough Republican City Committee, which routinely funnels money from big-money GOP donors to local legislative candidates.

Fourth Worcester

Candidate	Raised 8/19-10/19	Cash on hand 10/19	Late Contributions	Total Available
Dennis Rosa (D-Leominster)	$7,473	$13,766	$5,972	$19,738
Justin Brooks (R-Leominster)	$4,124	$9,122	$1,251	$10,373

Despite having a healthy war chest, Rosa has pumped nearly $6,000 of his personal funds into his campaign over the last two days. Rosa has taken in over $3,000 from an eclectic group of PACs, including liberal Congressman Jim McGovern’s PAC and the far-right-wing Mass. Independent PAC for Working Families among others. Brooks spent almost nothing over the last two months (just $655), and has money to spend. He’s also getting late help from the Republican State Committee, which spent $2,500 on a mailing on October 31.

Fifth Worcester

Candidate	Raised 8/19-10/19	Cash on hand 10/19	Late Contributions	Total Available
Anne Gobi (D-Spencer)	$940	$7,537	$0	$7,537
Jason Petraitis (R-North Brookfield)	$1,745	$1,010	$1,545	$2,555

This has been an extremely quiet race, with little activity reported by either candidate. Of the only $940 Gobi has raised in the last two months, $800 were from PACs. She has also spent less than $2,000. Petraitis is making a late fundraising surge, taking in over $1,500 at a fundraiser last weekend. His biggest expense has been online advertising, dropping $1,100 for ads on the Telegram & Gazette website.

2012 Races -- Massachusetts Senate

Here are the State Senate races and candidates CMassPolitics.com will be following in the 2012 cycle. CMassPolitics.com is most interested in those districts that represent communities in Worcester County and far Northwestern Middlesex County. Websites and twitter feeds are campaign-based, unless otherwise noted. This listing will be updated as changes warrant.

Contested Races
Middlesex and Worcester
Jamie Eldridge (D-Acton) -- Incumbent website, twitter, facebook
Dean Cavaretta (R-Stow) website, twitter, facebook

Second Worcester
Michael Moore (D-Millbury) -- Incumbent website, facebook
Stephen Simonian (R-Auburn) website, facebook

Uncontested Races
First Worcester: Harriette Chandler (D-Worcester) -- Incumbent twitter
Worcester, Hampden, Hampshire, and Middlesex: Stephen Brewer (D-Barre) -- Incumbent website, facebook
Worcester and Middlesex: Jennifer Flanagan (D-Leominster) -- Incumbent website, twitter, facebook
Worcester and Norfolk: Richard Moore (D-Uxbridge) -- Incumbent website, twitter, facebook

2012 Races -- Massachusetts House

Here are the State House races and candidates CMassPolitics.com will be following in the 2012 cycle. CMassPolitics.com is most interested in those districts that represent communities in Worcester County and far Northwestern Middlesex County. Websites and twitter feeds are campaign-based, unless otherwise noted. This listing will be updated as changes warrant.

Contested Races
Second Franklin: 
Denise Andrews (D-Orange) -- Incumbent website, twitter, facebook
Rebecca Bialecki (D-Orange) website, facebook
Genevieve Fraser (D-Orange) twitter, facebook
James White (D-Phillipston) website, facebook
Susannah Whipps-Lee (R-Athol) website, facebook
Richard Schober (U-Templeton) website, twitter, facebook

Third Middlesex:
Kate Hogan (D-Stow) -- Incumbent website, facebook
Chuck Kuniewich (R-Hudson) website, facebook

Fourth Middlesex
Steven Levy (R-Marlborough) -- Incumbent website, twitter, facebook
Danielle Gregoire (D-Marlborough) website, twitter
Joseph Collins (D-Marlborough)

Eighth Middlesex
Carolyn Dykema (D-Holliston) -- Incumbent website, twitter, facebook
Martin Lamb (R-Hopkinton) website, twitter, facebook

Second Worcester
Rich Bastien (R-Gardner) -- Incumbent website, twitter, facebook
Scott Graves (R-Gardner) website, twitter, facebook
Jonathan Zlotnik (D-Gardner) website, facebook

Fourth Worcester
Dennis Rosa (D-Leominster) -- Incumbent website, twitter
Justin Brooks (R-Leominster) website, twitter, facebook

Sixth Worcester
Peter Durant (R-Spencer) -- Incumbent website, twitter, facebook
Kathleen Walker (D-Charlton) website, facebook
 
Eighth Worcester
Kevin Kuros (R-Uxbridge) -- Incumbent website, twitter, facebook
Bob Dubois (D-Blackstone) website, facebook

14th Worcester 
Jim O'Day (D-West Boylston) -- Incumbent, facebook

Bill McCarthy (R-Worcester) website


15th Worcester -- OPEN SEAT

Frank Beshai (D-Worcester) website, twitter, facebook
Dianna Biancheria (D-Worcester) website, facebook
Mary Keefe (D-Worcester) facebook
Ralph Perez (D-Worcester)
Kate Toomey (D-Worcester) website, twitter, facebook
Brian O'Malley (R-Worcester) website, facebook


17th Worcester
John Binienda (D-Worcester) -- Incumbent
William LeBeau (R-Leicester) twitter, facebook

18th Worcester
Ryan Fattman (R-Sutton) -- Incumbent website, twitter, facebook
Donald Bourque (D-Webster) website, twitter, facebook

Uncontested Races
First Hampden: Todd Smola (R-Palmer) -- Incumbent website 
First Middlesex: Sheila Harrington (R-Groton) -- Incumbent website, twitter, facebook
37th Middlesex: Jennifer Benson (D-Lunenburg) -- Incumbent website, twitter, facebook
First Worcester: Kim Ferguson (R-Holden) -- Incumbent website, facebook
Third Worcester: Stephen DiNatale (D-Fitchburg) -- Incumbent
Fifth Worcester: Anne Gobi (D-Spencer) -- Incumbent website, facebook
Seventh Worcester: Paul Frost (R-Auburn) -- Incumbent, facebook
Ninth Worcester: George Peterson (R-Grafton) -- Incumbent website, facebook
10th Worcester: John Fernandes (D-Milford) -- Incumbent website
11th Worcester: Matt Beaton (R-Shrewsbury) -- Incumbent website, twitter, facebook
12th Worcester: Harold Naughton (D-Clinton) -- Incumbent website, facebook
13th Worcester: John Mahoney (D-Worcester) -- Incumbent, facebook
16th Worcester: John Fresolo (D-Worcester) -- Incumbent website, facebook

2012 Races -- U.S. Congress

Here are the U.S. Congressional races and candidates CMassPolitics.com will be following in the 2012 cycle. CMassPolitics.com is most interested in those districts that represent communities in Worcester County and far Northwestern Middlesex County. Websites and twitter feeds are campaign-based, unless otherwise noted. This listing will be updated as changes warrant.

Contested Races
New District 1 (Old District 2)
Richard Neal (D-Springfield) -- Incumbent website, twitter, facebook
Andrea Nuciforo (D-Pittsfield) website, twitter, facebook
Bill Shein (D-Alford) website, twitter, facebook

New District 2 (Old District 3)
James McGovern (D-Worcester) -- Incumbent website, twitter, facebook
William Feegbeh (D-Boston)
Richard Eustis (R-Northborough)
Patrick Barron (U-Worcester)

New District 3 (Old District 5)
Niki Tsongas (D-Lowell) -- Incumbent website, twitter, facebook
Jon Golnik (R-Carlisle) website, twitter, facebook
Tom Weaver (R-Westford) website, twitter, facebook

District 4 -- OPEN SEAT

Micheal Burstein (D-Brookline) website, twitter, facebook
Marty Farren (D-Sharon) website, twitter
Joseph Kennedy III (D-Brookline) website, twitter, facebook
Jules Levine (D-Brookline)
Jack Porter (D-Newton) facebook
Herb Robinson (D-Newton) website, twitter, facebook
Sean Bielat (R-Norfolk) website, twitter, facebook
Elizabeth Childs (R-Brookline) website

Retiring
Old District 1: John Olver (D-Amherst) -- Incumbent, Retiring website*, twitter
Old District 4: Barney Frank (D-Newton) -- Incumbent, Retiring website*

*Official U.S. House website, not campaign website.

Hashing it all out

Since most of my thoughts are posted on my twitter feed these days, I thought I compile a list of hashtags that I use/follow. Let me know if there are other hashtags related to Massachusetts politics that I should add to the list:

#CMass -- Central Massachusetts
#westernma -- Western Massachusetts
#mapoli -- Massachusetts Politics
#bospoli -- Boston Politics
#worcpoli -- Worcester Politics
#magov -- Governor and Candidates for Governor
#masen -- Senator and Candidates for Senate
#maleg -- Massachusetts House and Senate
#ma01 -- Congressional District 1
#ma02 -- Congressional District 2
#ma03 -- Congressional District 3
#ma04 -- Congressional District 4
#ma05 -- Congressional District 5
#ma06 -- Congressional District 6
#Worcester -- Worcester
#Fitchburg -- Fitchburg
#Leominster -- Leominster

The State House Money Race

Who has the most money as we look forward to the 2012 elections? Year-end reports were due to OCPF late last month; I've compiled this list of House incumbents and candidates (either publicly announced or campaign committee filed with OCPF). Here are the results (amount listed is cash-on-hand as of December 31, 2011):

Second Franklin
$1,483.77 -- Denise Andrews (D-Orange) -- Incumbent

First Hampden
$20,021.34 Todd Smola (R-Palmer) -- Incumbent

First Middlesex
$2,143.27 -- Sheila Harrington (R-Groton) -- Incumbent

Third Middlesex
$10,033.42 -- Kate Hogan (D-Stow) -- Incumbent

Fourth Middlesex
$15,045.82 Steven Levy (R-Marlborough) -- Incumbent
$1,453,35 -- Danielle Gregoire (D-Marlborough)

Eighth Middlesex
$11,145.76 -- Carolyn Dykema (D-Holliston) -- Incumbent
$7,887.10 -- Martin Lamb (R-Hopkinton)

37th Middlesex
$16,735.88 -- Jennifer Benson (D-Lunenburg) -- Incumbent website, twitter 

First Worcester
$12,382.39 -- Kim Ferguson (R-Holden) -- Incumbent

Second Worcester
$3,460.91 -- Rich Bastien (R-Gardner) -- Incumbent

Third Worcester
$40,148.13 -- Stephen DiNatale (D-Fitchburg) -- Incumbent

Fourth Worcester
$20,232.42 -- Dennis Rosa (D-Leominster) -- Incumbent
$3,482.24 -- Justin Brooks (R-Leominster)

Fifth Worcester
$6,427.75 -- Anne Gobi (D-Spencer) -- Incumbent

Sixth Worcester
$5,437.38 -- Peter Durant (R-Spencer) -- Incumbent

Seventh Worcester
$6,042.45 -- Paul Frost (R-Auburn) -- Incumbent 

Eighth Worcester
$9,956.62 -- Kevin Kuros (R-Uxbridge) -- Incumbent

Ninth Worcester
$14,246.91 -- George Peterson (R-Grafton) -- Incumbent 

10th Worcester
$13,396.14 -- John Fernandes (D-Milford) -- Incumbent 

11th Worcester
$6,625.55 -- Matt Beaton (R-Shrewsbury) -- Incumbent

12th Worcester
$12,403.98 -- Harold Naughton (D-Clinton) -- Incumbent

13th Worcester
$6,548.64 -- John Mahoney (D-Worcester) -- Incumbent
 
14th Worcester
$28,959.94 -- Jim O'Day (D-West Boylston) -- Incumbent

15th Worcester -- OPEN SEAT

$526.59* -- Dianna Biancheria (D-Worcester)
$4,404.70* -- Kate Toomey (D-Worcester)
*Balance in municipal election account.

16th Worcester
$74,639.23 -- John Fresolo (D-Worcester) -- Incumbent

17th Worcester
$402,923.38 -- John Binienda (D-Worcester) -- Incumbent

18th Worcester
$39,951.09 -- Ryan Fattman (R-Sutton) -- Incumbent
$1,661,10 -- Donald Bourque (D-Webster)
$13,205.60 -- Jennifer Callahan (D-Sutton)

The State Senate Money Race

Who has the most money as we look forward to the 2012 elections? Year-end reports were due to OCPF this week; I've compiled this list of Senate incumbents and candidates (either publicly announced or campaign committee filed with OCPF). Here are the results (amount listed is cash-on-hand as of December 31, 2011):

State Senate

Middlesex and Worcester
$59,719 -- Jamie Eldridge ( D-Acton) Incumbent
No Report -- Dean Cavaretta (R-Stow)

First Worcester
$145,655 -- Harriette Chandler (D-Worcester) Incumbent
No Report -- Dominick King (R-Worcester)

Second Worcester
$46,755 -- Michael Moore (D-Millbury) Incumbent

Worcester, Hampden, Hampshire, and Middlesex
$154,820 -- Stephen Brewer (D-Barre) Incumbent

Worcester and Middlesex
$19,519 -- Jennifer Flanagan (D-Leominster) Incumbent
No Report -- Aaron Arsenault (U-Leominster)

Worcester and Norfolk
$97,583 --  Richard Moore (D-Uxbridge) -- Incumbent