Nassau GOP's fundraising dominance

Daily Point

Nassau GOP has piles of cash for November elections

Pop quiz: How much money do you think the powerhouse Republican Party of Nassau County has available for November’s local elections compared to Suffolk Republicans? Or even their Democratic opponents in Nassau?

Whatever you guessed, it's probably staggeringly low.

The juggernaut that is the Nassau County Republican political machine is proving its fundraising prowess yet again.

The Nassau County Republican Committee raised $1,092,352.30 from Jan. 15 to July 15, and has $3,355,613.34 in the bank. Suffolk Republicans raised $16,786.13 in that same time frame.

In 2024, a presidential election year, the Nassau GOP raised $2,228,572.88. In ‘23, it raised $1,129,125.

For Republicans in the 2025 local election, that equates to $176,600 for each of the 19 legislative districts. The 19 Democrats running for legislature raised $186,425.76 – combined.

And that doesn’t even count money Republican legislator candidates raised themselves, which amounts to $287,600.94.

Comparatively, the Nassau County Democratic Committee received $518,691.23 in contributions during the same time and has $518,847.27 in the bank.

A Nassau Democratic insider told The Point that county Dems are campaigning old-school style: grassroots. “The Nassau GOP may be flush with cash but no amount of money can buy them a record to run on. Elections aren’t won by bank accounts alone,” said the source, perhaps wistfully.

Republican Sheharyar Ali, facing Democrat Cynthia Nunez for the open seat in District 14, led all legislator candidates with $93,975 raised. Legis. Scott Davis was the top earner among Democrats with $33,905 raised. Davis’ opponent, Republican Charlene Thompson, reported no activity.

Republicans raised more cash than Democrats in 10 districts while Democrats outraised Republicans in eight districts. In District 13, GOP stronghold, incumbent Republican Thomas McKevitt reported no money raised, while his Democratic opponent, Clive Cossou, didn’t file a report.

In District 7, Republican incumbent Legis. Howard Kopel raised $28,000 and has $34,637.48 in the bank compared with his Democratic opponent, Alec Fischthal, who raised 25 bucks.

In District 3, a Democratic stronghold, it is the Republican with the paltry total. Democratic incumbent Legis. Carrié Solages raised $12,325 compared with Republican challenger Kadeem Brown, who raised 30 bucks – a $5 contribution from himself and a $25 donation listed from a candidate family member.

A few incumbents were beaten in the race for cash by challengers. In redrawn District 5, Democrat Olena Nicks, the current legislator of District 2, was outraised by GOP political newcomer Moshe Hill. Nicks raised $7,675 and Hill raised $12,616.13.

Republican incumbent Scott Strauss, in District 9, raised $18,475 compared with $21,176 raised by Democratic challenger Juleigh Chin. Strauss, though, has $32,319.04 in the bank compared with Chin’s $6,338.02.

And in District 16, incumbent Democrat Arnold Drucker was outraised by Republican/Conservative challenger Jennifer Pravato. Drucker raised $13,088 while Pravato reported taking in $43,255.

Over in Suffolk, the county Democratic Committee reported $379,863.60 in contributions in its July 15 filing and $218,471.96 in the bank. Suffolk Republicans raised $16,786.13 and have $1,015,871.09 in the bank.

— Mark Nolan mark.nolan@newsday.com

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Winds of no change

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— Mark Nolan mark.nolan@newsday.com

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