Josh Gottheimer Continues To Out-Fundraise Congressman Garrett

WYCKOFF, N.J. — Democratic challenger Josh Gottheimer raised $324,000 from April 1 to May 18 — double that of Congressman Scott Garrett's $167,000, according to reports filed with the Federal Election Commission.

Gottheimer has raised $2.3 million, compared with only $1.1 million for Garrett, since the beginning of 2015, the reports show.

Gottheimer, a Wyckoff resident, is running in what is considered to be one of the most important House — and most compelling — races this election season: New Jersey's 5th Congressional District. Gottheimer is a "socially progressive, fiscally-conservative" democrat. He previously was a speechwriter for President Bill Clinton and had been a former executive with Microsoft.

Gottheimer was recently endorsed by the National Association of Realtors and the union representing more than 5,000 firefighters, emergency medical technicians, and dispatchers in New Jersey. 

Erin Brown, chairwoman of the Realtors PAC, Gottheimer has the "solid knowledge of what it will take to responsibly reform the mortgage finance system to ensure affordable, long-term financing is available to homebuyers while protecting taxpayers."

The firefighters union said that since Garrett was elected to Congress in 2003, he has voted against "issues critical to New Jersey's firefighters, EMTs, and dispatchers."

Garrett is facing off against Michael Cino of Demarest and Peter Vallorosi of Newton in the June 7 primary.

The 5th district is made up of municipalities in Bergen, Sussex, Passaic, and Warren counties. In Bergen, the municipalities include: Fair Lawn, Franklin Lakes, Glen Rock, Hillsdale, Mahwah, New Milford, Oakland, Oradell, Paramus, Ramsey, Ridgewood, River Edge, Teaneck, Township of Washington, Westwood, and Wyckoff.

PHOTO: Rep. Scott Garrett (left) and Josh Gottheimer.