WASHINGTON D.C. — The campaign to elect Fourth Congressional District Rep. Dan Newhouse, R-Yakima, to a third term in 2018 is dominating his challenger Christine Brown, who is running as a Democrat, when it comes to campaign contributions.

Newhouse is a two-term congressman who has traditionally taken the top spot in congressional races when it comes to campaign contributions. In 2017 alone Newhouse’s 2018 campaign took in a total of $422,612 in contributions, including $123,529 from individuals and $298,419 in committee contributions, according to the Federal Election Commission (FEC).

For 2017 the campaign had a total of $427,096 in receipts and, after disbursements and operating expenditures, ended the year with $171,528 on hand. The majority of the biggest donations to the campaign came by way of political action committees (PACs), rather than from individual contributors. PACs for the National Air Traffic Controllers Association, Boeing, J.R. Simplot, General Electric and Microsoft, as well as the National Rifle Association of America Political Victory Fund, donated funds Newhouse’s way.

In the Columbia Basin contributions from individuals were just as large, but not as many because they were from other areas in the Fourth District with larger populations, like the Tri-Cities. Local noteworthy donors to the Newhouse campaign include Grant County Chief Deputy Prosecutor Alan White, 13th Legislative District Rep. Tom Dent, R-Moses Lake, and local businessman Mick Qualls.

Brown, so far, is the only other person to file with the FEC to run against Newhouse in 2018. Brown, a former reporter and television news anchor, came in far behind her challenger in terms of campaign contributions and cash on hand at the end of 2017, taking in $54,067 in total contributions and having $22,718 on hand at the end of the year.

Brown filed with the FEC in June 2017 and ran as a Democrat in a district that has traditionally been a Republican stronghold.

Richard Byrd can be reached via email at city@columbiabasinherald.com.