How much money do your local State Reps have on hand to spend on their campaigns this year?

The 2024 campaign season is well underway and that means local State Representatives have begun to raise money to fund their re-elections campaigns. Let’s take a look at how much each one of your local leaders has on hand.

Patricia Haddad of Somerset is your Democratic State Representative for the 5th Bristol district. As of today, Haddad has close to $74,000 in her campaign fund.

Justin Thurber, a Republican from Somerset, has announced that he is running against Haddad for her seat. Thurber ran against Haddad two years ago as a political newcomer and managed to pull in almost 46% of the general election vote, losing to long time incumbent Haddad by less that 1500 votes.

Alan Silvia of Fall River is your Democratic State Representative for the 7th Bristol District. As of today, Silvia has just over $18,000 in his campaign account.

Silvia has not had a formidable opponent since he first ran for this seat in 2012. At that time, he beat incumbent Democrat Kevin Aguiar in the Democratic Primary and went unopposed in the general election.

No word on any potential challengers for Silvia in this upcoming election.

Paul Schmid of Westport is the State Representative for the 8th Bristol District. As of today, Schmid has $71,000 on hand in his campaign account.

Schmid announced last month that after seven terms, he would not be seeking re-election. So far, there have been three individuals who have announced they would be running for the open seat: Democrat Steve Ouellette who currently serves on the Westport Select Board, Independent Manny Soares who also serves on the Westport Select Board and Independent Jesse StGelais from Acushnet.

Republican Evan Gendreau of Westport, who ran against Schmid in the previous two elections, announced that he would not be running for the open seat this year, instead focusing on his work in the Town of Westport where he was elected to the School Committee last April. Gendreau garnered 42.9% of the vote against Schmid in the 2020 general election and 46.4% of the vote in 2022.

Lastly, we have Carole Fiola of Fall River, a Democrat who represents the 6th Bristol District. As of today, Fiola has almost as much money in her account than the other three Reps combined: $144,000.

Fiola, who has served as your State Representative since 2013 last had an opponent in 2018 when Republican David Steinhof challenged Fiola in a race when he only managed to secure 37% of the vote.

Fall River Resident and former member of the Swansea Recreation Commission Patrick Higgins has taken out papers and is gathering signatures to run against Fiola in this years election. Higgins is listed as unenrolled.

All qualified candidates will appear on the Presidential ballot in this years election which takes place on Tuesday, November 5th.