George Santos’ campaign fund has net loss in 2023

• The New York Post reported Santos plans to announce his reelection bid as soon as Monday, even as he already faces one primary challenger.

Driving the news: Santos raised about $5,300 in the first three months of 2023 but refunded roughly $8,300 to donors during the same period, according to the filings.

• Most of the $5,300 came in the form of small contributions from the GOP fundraising platform WinRed, with one additional $250 donation from a donor named Sacha Basin.
• That left Santos with $25,000 cash on hand going into April. He reported no expenditures this year other than the refunds.
• Santos also owes $715,000 from loans he reported making to his campaign last cycle — the subject of considerable public scrutiny and an FEC probe, given his questionable personal finances.

Between the lines: Virtually all of Santos’ cash on hand was raised in the weeks between the November election and a New York Times report in December that revealed blatant falsehoods he told on the campaign trail.

• Among the alleged fabrications were details about his education and professional background, his religious identity and family history. He also faced a litany of legal issues.

By contrast, Santos’ fellow GOP freshmen in highly competitive New York seats — who unlike him are not expected to face serious primary challenges in 2024 — raised far more for their campaigns.

• Rep. Marc Molinaro (R-N.Y.), for example, brought in nearly $640,000 during the first quarter and had more than $600,000 in cash on hand.