Aftab Pureval, left, is running against Rep. Steve Chabot in OH-01. Photo: Photo by Paul Morigi / Getty Images for Netflix
Aftab Pureval, the Democrat challenging Rep. Steve Chabot for his U.S. House seat in Ohio's 1st congressional district, has raised $660,000 in the eight weeks since announcing his candidacy. Pureval, a first-generation American and lawyer-turned-politician, was elected in 2016 as the Clerk of Courts in Ohio's Hamilton County — the first Democrat elected to that position in 100 years in the district.
Why it matters: Pureval's team said that these fundraising totals are more than any Democratic challenger has raised in a single quarter against Chabot, who has held the seat since it was redistricted in 2010. Most importantly, the numbers show nearly 80% of the money is coming from voters in and around the district, suggesting enthusiasm from Pureval's constituents. Well-funded Democrats, like Paul Ryan challenger Randy Bryce and Georgia's Jon Ossoff, often see the bulk of their cash come from big blue states like New York and California.