Rep. Josh Brecheen, Oklahoma's freshman in U.S. House, struggles to raise reelection money

While three of Oklahoma’s five U.S. House members have built campaign war chests topping $1 million, freshman Rep. Josh Brecheen has struggled to raise funds and finished September with less than $100,000 in his reelection account.

Brecheen, R-Coalgate, raised about $62,000 in the third quarter of this year, giving him a total of $149,525 in receipts for the current two-year cycle. His most recent report, filed with the Federal Election Commission on Sunday, shows he had $91,476 in his account at the end of September.

By comparison, Rep. Stephanie Bice, an Oklahoma City Republican, raised $260,000 in the third quarter of her freshman year, in 2021, and had nearly $750,000 in cash on hand at the end of that quarter.

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Brecheen’s campaign said Tuesday, “It's no secret that Josh Brecheen doesn't prioritize fundraising over doing his job as a Representative. He's someone who believes that the money will be there when he needs it. There are groups who look for conservatives who are not well heeled to the moneyed interests of Washington, D.C. One of those groups has committed $20 million to support true conservatives.

“He is one who believes that promotion doesn't come from the East or the West but from the hand of God. If it's the Lord’s will for him to remain a member of Congress, he will be re-elected.”

Where Rep. Josh Brecheen's campaign donations have come from

Brecheen topped a crowded Republican field last year and then easily won the general election to succeed Markwayne Mullin in the 2nd Congressional District, which covers most eastern Oklahoma counties.

The rancher and former state legislator got a huge boost from Club for Growth, the Washington, D.C., organization that backs small government conservatives. School Freedom Fund, a political arm of the group, spent $3.4 million to help Brecheen win the GOP nomination, according to Club for Growth.

Lawmakers are often vulnerable in their first reelection efforts, particularly if they have fundraising troubles. But Club for Growth could provide a financial deterrent to anyone considering a challenge to Brecheen next year.

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Brecheen’s latest report shows the congressman’s biggest contributions in the quarter came from out-of-state individuals and from the political action committee tied to Oklahoma Sen. James Lankford, a Republican.

Meanwhile, the latest campaign finance reports show Bice and Reps. Tom Cole and Kevin Hern have more than $1 million in their reelection accounts and had strong fundraising quarters.

Bice and Cole, R-Moore, are members of the powerful Appropriations Committee; Cole is one of the most senior members of that panel and a subcommittee chairman. Hern, R-Tulsa, is on the Ways and Means Committee, which oversees tax policy and entitlement programs.

Members of the Appropriations and Ways and Means committees attract donations from a wide range of special interests. Brecheen serves on the Budget and Homeland Security committees, neither of which is a magnet for campaign money.

Rep. Frank Lucas, R-Cheyenne, the dean of the state’s congressional delegation, has not had a serious challenger in more than two decades and typically puts little effort into fundraising. He finished the third quarter with nearly $490,000 in his campaign account.

Mullin, who won the race last year to succeed Sen. Jim Inhofe, reported raising about $241,000 in the third quarter and having $172,000 in his account. Inhofe’s term had four years left, so Mullin will not have to run again until 2026.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Rep. Josh Brecheen of Oklahoma struggles to fundraise for reelection