Republicans in the 18th Representative District special election have out-raised Democrats, though just barely, with the special election just days away.
Democrat David Bentz raised nearly $23,000 over the past 21 days, with about 40 percent of that coming from a fundraiser at a Newark country club headlined by Gov. Jack Markell (D).
Several of the high-dollar contributions came from state lawmaker campaign funds.
Bentz’s former boss, Rep. Michael Barbieri, who used to occupy the now open seat, gave $600 personally. Crossroads of Delaware, the business Barbieri previously ran and is now selling, chipped in another $300.
Republican Eileen O’Shaughnessy-Coleman has outraised Bentz by about $1,500 and has continued strong, tallying another $16,000 in new donations.
Bentz has also spent more than twice as much on political mailers than O’Shaughnessy-Coleman, paying about $12,000 at the Arlington, Virginia-based Beytin Agency.
O’Shaughnessy-Coleman still has a little over $28,000 cash on hand compared to Bentz’s $22,000.
Polls open in the 18th RD at 7 a.m. Saturday.
