In 187th, Stefanie Rafes vastly outraises, outspends Republican Gary Day
In 187th, Stefanie Rafes vastly outraises, outspends Republican Gary Day
Newcomer Democrat Stefanie Rafes amassed $512,567 worth of cash and in-kind help in her race in 187th House District against Republican Gary Day, who held the seat for 14 years and wants it back, campaign finance reports show.
Rafes’ cache was nearly eight times larger than Day’s. He raised $60,956 in cash and in-kind donations, between 2023 and Oct. 21, which was the closing date for the latest campaign finance reporting period. Another $4,900 came in on Oct. 23, bringing his total to $65,856.
The 187th is an open seat because its representative, Republican Ryan Mackenzie, is running against incumbent Democrat Susan Wild in the 7th Congressional District.
Day, who lives in Heidelberg Township, served in the 187th until redistricting altered the district’s boundaries, and he lost to Mackenzie in the 2022 Republican primary.
Rafes, a physician assistant who lives in Lower Macungie Township, is making her first bid for office.
In 187th, newcomer faces former House member who wants his seat back
Democrats hold a one-seat majority over Republicans (102-101) after their candidates won two special House elections in Philadelphia in September.
Despite her funding edge, Rafes faces hurdles in defeating Day.
With 23,189 party members in the district, Republicans have the registration advantage over Democrats, who number 17,627. In addition, there are 7,625 voters who have no affiliation and 1,381 who belong to other parties, the latest state data shows.
And Day, despite being out of office for two years, is well known after serving seven terms.
State representatives serve two-year terms. Day and Rafes were unopposed in the primary, allowing them to focus their spending efforts on Tuesday’s election.
The 187th comprises the boroughs of Macungie and Alburtis and the townships of Heidelberg, Lower Macungie, Lynn, Washington and Weisenberg, along with part of Upper Macungie Township (Districts 03, 07 and 08).
Here is a closer look at campaign funding in the 187th. Campaign finance reports for the May 14 to Oct. 21 period were due on Oct. 25.
Stefanie Rafes
Altogether, Rafes brought in $336,460 in cash and $176,107 worth of in-kind contributions, according to reports filed by Friends of Stefanie Rafes.
Individuals and others, such as political party committees, are permitted to donate services to candidates. Candidates must report a dollar value for such help.
She raised $16,920 in cash 2023 and added $56,530 between January and May 13. Then she brought in $263,010 between May 14 and Oct. 21.
Rafes also received $13,834 in in-kind contributions between 2023 and May 13, most of it from the House Democratic Campaign Committee for staffing and advertising.
Between May 14 and Oct. 21, she received $162,273 worth of in-kind donations, with $85,555 of it from the House Democratic Campaign Committee for staffing and television ads and $74,759 from the Pennsylvania Democratic Party for design, production, mailings and postage.
Individual contributions from May 14 to Oct. 21 included Tomas Torres of Houston, $2,500; Lehigh County Executive Phil Armstrong, $250, and State Rep. Peter Schweyer, D-134, $1,500 (as an individual).
Political committee contributions from May 14 to Oct. 21 included Friends of (state Rep.) Matt Bradford, D-70, $15,000; Friends of (state Rep.) Mike Schlossberg, D-132, $1,750; Friends of (state Rep.) Josh Siegel, D-22, $500; Friends of (state Sen.) Nick Miller, D-14, $1,500; PA SEIU Cope, $20,000; PSEA PACE, $25,000; Represent PAC, $10,000; AFSCME Pennsylvania, $25,000, and 1776 PAC, $5,000.
Rafes spent almost all of the money she raised, listing $326,517 in expenditures and a cash carryover of $9,600 as of Oct. 21.
The bulk of her expenditures – $220,000 – went to the House Democratic Campaign Committee. In addition to offering in-kind services, the HDCC also provides campaign-related services such as advertising and mailers. Berlin Rosen Ltd. was paid $83,111 for digital ads and production.
Gary Day
Day, who lives in Heidelberg Township, raised $59,962 in cash and received $994 worth of in-kind donations between 2023 and Oct. 21.
He spent $56,837 with the bulk coming in the form of two $17,000 contributions to the House Republican Campaign Committee. Many candidates donate money to party campaign committees, which, in turn, spend the money on their races.
Day’s biggest contributor for the May 14 to Oct. 21 period was David B. Rothrock, retired president and CEO of the former Rothrock Motor Sales in Whitehall, who gave $25,000.
In September 2023, Charles J. Koch of Newton, Mass., (known as Jim Koch), chairman of Boston Beer that makes Samuel Adams and operates a brewery in Breinigsville, gave $20,000.
Both were also significant contributors to Day’s 2022 losing primary campaign – Koch, $30,000, and Rothrock, $20,000. Day spent more than $186,000 on the race against Mackenzie.
David Jaindl, president of Jaindl Farms, gave $1,000 in the latest reporting period.
Patriots for (state Sen. Jarrett) Coleman, R-16, gave $4,900 on Oct. 23, according to a separate report for late contributions filed by Day’s committee. That amount raised his contributions to $64,862.
After leaving office, Day became Coleman’s director of policy and director of district operations for state Coleman.
The House Republican Campaign Committee gave him $994 worth of in-kind services for mailers.
Day ended the period with $4,678 in cash.