U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan had his strongest fundraising quarter in his nearly 18 years in Congress, raising $586,146 between July and September.

Ryan, D-Howland, also spent $604,115 during the three months with $251,302 going to CounterPoint Messaging LLC of Nashville, Tenn., to produce commercials and buy time on television and social media.

The campaign of Christina Hagan of Marlboro Township, his Republican challenger, said it raised close to $500,000 during the third quarter, which would be more than Ryan raised in any other previous quarter.

Meanwhile, an outside special interest group backing Hagan reported spending about $150,000 on the race.

The five-county 13th District includes most of Trumbull and Mahoning counties.

Ryan, Hagan and other congressional candidates on the Nov. 3 ballot don’t have to file a third quarter report until 11:59 p.m. Oct. 15.

Ryan didn’t wait, filing his Wednesday.

“This is the best I’ve ever done, the most I’ve ever raised,” he said. “We’re excited about it. We’ve got enough gas in the tank to bring us to the election.”

Ryan said: “We’re in a real good spot. Fundraising hasn’t always been my thing, but I’ve disciplined myself to make it happen and be on the phone. It’s been a significant amount of work.”

KEEPING UP

Because of the dark money from the Ohio Freedom Fund in this race, Ryan said he’s got to raise money to keep up.

Ryan received $353,645 in donations from individuals and $232,501 from political action committees between July and September.

Fourteen PACs gave his campaign the maximum $5,000 contribution during this last quarter including those representing Boeing, L Brands, Realtors, the Laborers International union and Deloitte.

He also made $6,882 in refunds during the quarter.

Ryan spent $604,115 in the third quarter.

Overall during this campaign, Ryan has raised $1,468,645 and spent $1,281,430.

Including money he carried over from previous campaigns, Ryan had $375,639 in his fund as of Sept. 30.

Ryan said he has an online fundraiser today as well as one with U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Cleveland, next week.

HAGAN FUNDS

Hagan hadn’t filed her third quarter report with the Federal Election Commission as of Wednesday night.

Bryan Bixler, Hagan’s campaign manager, declined to give a specific amount of money raised during the second quarter, saying it was close to $500,000 — nearly 7,000 contributions with an average of $71.14 per contribution.

He also declined to disclose how much the campaign spent in the third quarter and how much cash the fund had as of Sept. 30.

“Our compliance officer is still compiling the data and will be providing that information as required by federal law,” he said.

As of July 31, Hagan’s campaign had raised $227,948 and spent $98,641. It had $130,190 as of July 31, which included a small amount left over from her failed 2018 bid for the 16th Congressional District seat.

Hagan said: “From the moment I announced my candidacy, my campaign has been about giving power back to the residents of this district, not the bureaucrats and special interests in Washington. Our latest fundraising totals show the growing enthusiasm and support of our campaign among the hardworking men and women in the 13th District.”

Hagan had a Wednesday fundraiser in Warren. Trumbull County Republican Party Chairman Kevin Wyndham, one of the hosts, said the event raised about $50,000.

Hagan and Ryan began airing commercials last month.

Also, the Ohio Freedom Fund — a special interest group based in Washington, D.C., backing Hagan — filed its third quarter report Monday.

The group reported raising $152,520 during the third quarter and spending $150,060.

All of the money came from Invest in Ohio, another dark money group, between Sept. 3 and 16.

Of the money spent, $150,000 was paid to Medium Buying LLC of Columbus for media advertisements between Sept. 9 and 18 in support of Hagan and opposition of Ryan.

During the Republican primary, the Ohio Freedom Fund spent $97,500 to assist Hagan and criticize Louis G. Lyras of Campbell, who finished second in the primary. Lyras has since endorsed Ryan.

dskolnick@tribtoday.com