Fundraising numbers posted for candidates in the 23rd Congressional District show incumbent Rep. Tom Reed with more than four times as much cash on hand as the seven Democrats seeking to challenge him.

According to Federal Election Commission filings, Reed, who is seeking a fourth term in Congress, raised more than $1.7 million and had just over $1 million on hand at the end of 2017.

Reed’s seven potential Democratic opponents have raised less than $500,000, the FEC report released Tuesday shows. Their combined campaigns have less than a quarter of a million dollars on hand.

The Democratic opponent with the most cash on hand was the newest candidate, Dr. Linda Andrei, a retired Ithaca cardiologist, who had $131,231 in cash — $100,000 of which she loaned to her campaign. She was the last to enter the primary race in December.

Andrei posted a higher cash-on-hand number than the other six Democratic candidates combined.

“People are looking for a representative who isn’t beholden to special interests,” Andrei said in a statement. “I look forward to continuing the conversation of how we can provide quality health care, livable wages and better representation for our farmers and vintners throughout New York’s 23rd congressional district.”

In a campaign email, Reed said, “We are grateful to the hundreds of fellow New Yorkers who have placed their trust in us and invested their hard-earned money in our campaign. We are proud of the work we did in 2017 with the passage of the most comprehensive tax reforms in a generation, and we look forward to a 2018 of higher paychecks, more jobs, competitive businesses and a brighter future for our families.”

The Reed campaign has raised a total of $1,788,203 to date for this election cycle and has $1,025,034 cash on hand.

“This year’s record-breaking fundraising numbers and grassroots engagement with the campaign continue to show strong support for Tom’s common-sense agenda,” said Reed campaign manager Nicholas Weinstein. “With an engaged grassroots base and four times as much cash on hand as all nine of our opponents combined, we are well positioned for success in November.”

Democrats are in a scramble toward a June primary. One candidate has already dropped out. Now there are seven, plus two independent candidates. Nominating petitions can start being signed on March 6.

Cattaraugus County Democratic Party Chairman Frank Puglisi reviewed the FEC numbers on Friday.

“It shows Tom Reed is bought and paid for by interests from outside our district,” Puglisi said. “It shows we need campaign finance reform.”

Reed’s $1.7 million in contributions included $773,165 in individual contributions and $976,686 from political action committees (PACs). Many of the contributions are from outside the congressional district, Puglisi noted.

“In terms of the Democratic numbers, they are all relatively close,” Puglisi said. “It’s about what I expected with so many candidates. The bigger donors are holding back.”

Cattaraugus, Allegany and Chautauqua county Democrats held a straw poll back in October.

Puglisi and Chautauqua County Democratic Chairman Norman Green called for their committeemen to endorse a candidate as a way to help narrow the field. Last month both counties endorsed Jamestown attorney Eddie Sundquist.

“The endorsements are starting to make it clearer,” Puglisi said Friday, encouraging other counties to make endorsements in the congressional primary as well.

“I’m hoping more county committees will chose to endorse a top candidate or top three candidates to give some more clarity to the race,” Puglisi said. “Tom Reed is using the large number of Democrats who want to run against him to ask for more contributions.”

Analysis of the FEC numbers show Sundquist having raised $76,717, including a $22,000 loan to his campaign. He had $11,498 in campaign funds remaining.

Puglisi said Sundquist has an office and full-time staff devoted to his campaign. “He’s also got a couple of county endorsements,” he added.

The only other endorsement was from candidate Karl Warrington of Phelps, who dropped out of the primary race and endorsed Tracy Mitrano from Yates County, who heads a cyber security firm. Warrington had not reported any campaign contributions.

Mitrano, a former university administrator, reported raising $31,235, including $3,000 that she loaned her campaign. As of Dec. 31, she had $23,768 cash on hand. Most of her fundraising was restricted to the last three weeks in December, she noted.

“To receive so much support from donors in such a short period of time and during the holiday season demonstrates the trust voters are placing in me, and I am so grateful,” Mitrano said in a statement thanking her donors.

Max Della Pia, a retired Air Force officer and lawyer who worked as a congressional aide, reported raising the most campaign funds after Andrei. Della Pia raised $60,384, of which $25,000 was a loan to his campaign. He had $53,2317 on hand at the end of the election cycle Dec. 31.

Other candidates include:

Independent candidates John Hertzler and James Clasby from the eastern end of the district have not reported raising any campaign funds to the FEC.

Most county chairmen would like to see three candidates in the June primary, Puglisi said.

Puglisi said the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has targeted Reed’s 23rd Congressional District. That support will be determined by the primary winner’s poll numbers and ability to raise money.

The Charles Cook Political Report places the 23rd District in the “solid Republican” column.

The FEC campaign finance report information can be found at classic.fec.gov/pindex.shtml

(Contact reporter Rick Miller at rmiller@oleantimesherald.com. Follow him on Twitter, @RMillerOTH)