A Democrat attorney from Waterloo is the top fundraiser among the candidates competing for Iowa’s first district congressional seat. Federal Election Commission records show Democrat Bruce Braley has raised over $3,000 for his campaign. Jeff Link is a campaign consultant who says it’s encouraging news, and shows Braley has “a broad level of support.”
Republican restauranteur Mike Whalen of Davenport has raised the most among the Republicans vying for the first district congressional seat — a total of almost 269-thousand through the end of September. Whalen’s campaign manager says it comes from a variety of sources. Whalen is soliciting donations on-line, and holding fundraisers and house-parties to ask supporters for campaign contributions. Republican competitor Bill Dix, a state legislator from Shell Rock, has raised nearly as much as Whalen — a total of 267-thousand. Democrat Rick Dickinson of Dubuque, a former state legislator who’s a regional economic development association’s executive, has raised almost 227-thousand. Republican first district candidate Brian Kennedy has raised just over 135-thousand. Kennedy is a former Iowa Republican Party chairman who has worked on two national presidential campaigns. Democrat Bill Gluba, a Davenport real estate agent who ran for the first district seat in 2004 against Republican Congressman Jim Nussle, has raised almost 87-thousand dollars. Nussle is not seeking reelection. He’s running for governor, and the six candidates are competing to be his replacement in Congress.