Sen. Dean Heller, R-Nev., raised just over $1 million in the opening months of 2018 , less than half of his Democrat challenger, as he remains the most targeted GOP incumbent by Democrats and looks to hold onto his seat in November.
Heller announced that he raised $1.1 million and has $4.4 million in the bank as he preps for his November face-off with Democratic Rep. Jacky Rosen. Heller spent nearly $950,000 in the first quarter.
The news comes as Heller looks to keep pace with Rosen, his likely Democratic opponent in the fall. Rosen raked in $2.6 million during the first three months, including $3.5 million in cash on hand.
The figures follow a poor 2017 fundraising quarter for the Nevada Republican, who raised only $820,000 — a paltry amount for an incumbent Republican that earned him criticism from the party. Heller was not alone by any means as Republicans across the board struggled to raise money throughout the fall, with some struggles carrying over into the beginning of 2018.
Heller is the primary GOP incumbent targeted by Democrats, as he is also the only Senate Republican running in a state won by Hillary Clinton in the 2016 election.
Heller received a major boost to his campaign last month when Danny Tarkanian, a perennial candidate, announced he was dropping his primary bid against him at the urging of President Trump. Instead, Tarkanian will run for the state’s third congressional district — his seventh run for office since 2004.
Heller was also slated to get a financial boost last week when Vice President Mike Pence was expected to appear for a fundraiser in Las Vegas on Friday. However, Pence had to postpone the fundraiser after Trump canceled his planned trip to South America and forced Pence to stand in for him. The trip is being rescheduled, according to Alyssa Farah, a spokeswoman for the vice president.
