Spending tops $50,000 in Freeman-Sultana race in 136th District
Incumbent Robert Freeman and Taiba Sultana have spent more than $50,000 in their battle to win the April 23 Democratic primary in the 136th state House District.
The bulk of the spending by Freeman and Sultana came from in-kind contributions with Freeman receiving $23,870 and Sultana bringing in $21,324 in donated services, according to campaign finance reports filed with the Department of State.
The Committee to Elect Robert Freeman raised the most in cash donations, bringing in $45,946 between March 5 and April 12, according to campaign finance reports. Friends of Taiba Sultana raised $6,787 between Jan. 1 and April 8, her campaign finance reports show.
In 136th's Democratic matchup, Taiba Sultana looks to unseat Robert Freeman
This is the first primary challenge that Freeman is facing since he was first elected to the House of Representatives in 1982.
Sultana was elected to Easton City Council in 2021 after defeating longtime incumbent Sandra Vulcano in the primary election.
There are no Republicans on the April 23 primary ballot in the 136th.
Here is a look at their campaign finance reports.
Freeman
Freeman carried over $22,707 from 2023 and raised $43,946 between March 5 and April 8, giving him a total of $66,653 for his primary challenge. He spent $3,896 and received $23,870 in in-kind services. He ended the first quarter with $62,757.
The bulk of Freeman’s donations – $28,750 – came from political action committees and political committees of other candidates/elected officials. They included BFB PAC ($3,000); LAWPAC ($5,000); Friends of Mike Schlossberg (D-132) ($1,000); Friends of Steve Samuelson (D-135) ($500); Friends of Matt Bradford (D-70) ($5,000); Friends of Sal (Democratic Easton Mayor Sal Panto’s committee) ($1,000); 1776 PAC ($3,000); IBEW Local Union 375 PAC ($1,000). He raised another $2,000 on April 12, according to a late contribution report.
Large individual donors included $5,000 from Robert J. Sun of Easton, CEO of Suntex International, founder of the 24 Game! and 24 Challenge school tournaments, and $1,000 from Musikfest founder Jeffrey Parks and his wife, Susan Parks, of Bethlehem.
Freeman’s in-kind donations included $19,960 worth of mailers from the Pennsylvania House Democratic Campaign Committee, $1,000 in for photography from Amy Wolff, $1,500 worth of photography from Henry Hung and $1,500 in social media from Peter Karam.
Freeman listed $2,000 in unpaid debt to Richard Wilkins for field services.
Sultana
Sultana spent $25,312 mostly from in-kind contributions between Jan. 1 and April 8, according to two campaign expense reports filed.
She carried over $1,100 from 2023, raised $6,787 in cash donations and $21,324 in in-kind donations. She spent $3,988 from her cash funds and ended the reporting period with $3,806. She had no unpaid debts or obligations.
Cash donations included $1,000 from her husband Nadeem Qayyum, $1,000 from Shabana Pathan of New Jersey and $500 each from Rubina Ali and Nagi Latefa, both of New Jersey. Sultanta donated $200 to her campaign.
Sultana’s in-kind donations included $10,000 from Steel Pixel Studios, a Bethlehem content production and digital marketing company, $5,500 from Lehigh Print and Data, $3,400 from Mub Media and $424 from her husband for printing.
Most of her expenditures went to NGP Van Inc., a Democratic campaign software company.
Other primary matchups
The Freeman-Sultana matchup is among three contested state House primary races in the Lehigh Valley.
In the 131st state House District race, where Jay Santos is facing Meriam Sabih for the Democratic nomination, campaign expense reports did not turn up on a search. Candidates are not required to file a report if they raise less that $500.
Incumbent Republican Milou Mackenzie carried over $20,130 and raised $500 between Jan. 1 and April 8, according to her campaign finance report. She spent $6,582 and had $14,048 in cash left over. She has $25,100 in loans from her 2020 campaign – $20,100 from herself and $5,000 from Kevin D. Brown of Bethlehem.
In the 183rd House District race, incumbent Republican Zachary Mako filed a report saying he carried over $20,130 from 2023, raised $500 between Jan. 1 and April 8, spent $6,522 and had $14,048 left over.
The Department of State’s online database of campaign finance reports indicated his opponent Zachari Halkias had filed a report but it was not yet uploaded. Halkias, whose year-end report for 2023 showed $281 in the bank, did not respond to a phone call and a text message seeking current information about his campaign finances.