Southern Az Democrat Engel Shatters Fundraising Records in CD6 Congress Race

Democratic congressional candidate Kirsten Engel has broken a state fundraising record by amassing over $1.7 million between April 1 and June 30, her campaign announced. This financial boost aims at a rematch with GOP incumbent U.S. Rep. Juan Ciscomani, who narrowly won the Congressional District 6 seat in 2022.

As of the end of June, Engel’s campaign had more than $3 million on hand, according to spokesperson Alia Kapasi. “I am so grateful for all the support we have received, and that our message is resonating with the voters here in Southern Arizona,” Engel stated. She highlighted key voter concerns such as healthcare, border security, and housing costs.

Engel’s team has yet to release her full Federal Election Commission report, with Kapasi noting it is under review ahead of the July 15 deadline. However, Kapasi confirmed Engel’s second-quarter fundraising surpasses any previous Arizona congressional candidate’s records for the period.

Ciscomani’s campaign remained tight-lipped about his recent fundraising details. In the first quarter, Engel outraised Ciscomani, gathering $1.2 million compared to his $750,000. By March 31, Ciscomani had $2.45 million in his war chest.

The race for Congressional District 6 is poised to be a focal point nationwide. Engel, who lost to Ciscomani by about 2 percentage points in 2022, was vastly outspent in that election. National Democratic campaign committees had limited their financial engagement in the race.

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has added the district to its “Red to Blue” list for 2024. Additionally, the Democrat-aligned House Majority PAC reserved $2.4 million for TV and digital ads in CD 6, as part of a $186 million effort to reclaim the House.

The GOP is also ramping up its spending in the area. The Conservative Leadership Fund has allocated $5.8 million for TV, streaming, and digital platforms in Tucson. However, the National Republican Congressional Committee excluded Southern Arizona from its initial $45.7 million national spending wave.

Engel is unopposed in her primary, but Ciscomani will face Kathleen Winn again in the Republican primary on July 30. In the previous five-way GOP primary in 2022, Ciscomani secured approximately 47% of the vote, while Winn garnered about 19%.