Boroughs posts record fundraising numbers, topping opponent’s numbers from last 10 years
Adair Ford Boroughs, the Democratic challenger taking on incumbent U.S. Rep. Joe Wilson, reported her best fundraising quarter yet, outperforming all of the Springdale Republican’s previous opponents.
Bringing in more than $800,000 from July 1 to Sept. 30, Boroughs also raised more than Wilson has in any reported quarter since at least 2010 through June 30 of this year, according to Federal Election Commission data.
Wilson’s campaign has not yet released his fundraising totals from July 1 through the end of this month. The quarter ends at midnight Wednesday. A spokesman for Wilson’s campaign could not immediately be reached for comment.
Boroughs’ quarterly fundraising brings her total contributions since launching her campaign to over $2 million.
“Boroughs’ impressive haul comes after a year of her campaign breaking numerous fundraising records for the Second District,” Borough’s campaign said in a statement. “South Carolina has not elected a woman to Congress in 30 years, but Boroughs’ formidable candidacy proves that she is ready to upend the status quo.”
The last woman to serve in Congress for South Carolina was Liz Patterson, a Democrat who served the state’s 4th District from 1987 to 1993.
The 2nd Congressional District includes parts of Lexington, Aiken, Barnwell and Orangeburg counties. It also includes parts of Richland County, including Forrest Acres, Rosewood and near Fort Jackson.
Boroughs has raked in more contributions than Wilson every quarter since late 2019, while vowing not to take money from corporate political action committees. The former U.S. Department of Justice attorney has proven to be one of Wilson’s toughest opponents in years.
However, the Democratic challenger still faces tough odds against Wilson, who is seeking his 10th term since taking office in 2001.
Political experts shifted the race more in Boroughs’ favor over the summer. In July, the nonpartisan Sabato Crystal Ball at the University of Virginia moved the district from “safe Republican” to “likely Republican.”
This story was originally published September 29, 2020 at 12:59 PM.
