After a bruising primary battle, Democratic challenger Ruben Kihuen is trying to catch up to Republican Rep. Cresent Hardy in the fundraising battle for Nevada’s competitive 4th Congressional District.
Kihuen outraised Hardy between April and the end of June, according to reports released from both campaigns ahead of the Federal Election Commission’s reporting deadline. But Hardy holds roughly half a million dollars more in available cash after Kihuen survived a competitive Democratic primary.
Hardy’s campaign reported raising $174,481 through the period, with more than $758,000 in cash on hand. He ended the previous reporting period with $681,593 in available funds, and faced no serious primary challengers.
After defeating former Assemblywoman Lucy Flores and philanthropist Susie Lee in June’s Democratic primary election, Kihuen reported raising more than $465,000 over the same time period. Kihuen, a state senator, announced in an earlier release that 80 percent of the contributions were under $100.
The battle over the 4th Congressional District, which covers North Las Vegas and rural communities from Pahrump to Mesquite, is one of the closest-watched House races in the country.
Hardy is often listed as a vulnerable incumbent due to the district’s Democratic registration advantage, but a recent poll commissioned by the National Republican Congressional Committee shows the two running neck and neck.
