WASHINGTON -- U.S. Rep. Claudia Tenney is struggling to raise money for her 2018 election campaign against State Assemblyman Anthony Brindisi in what is expected to be one of the most competitive House races in the nation, new disclosure reports show.

Brindisi, D-Utica, raised about $100,000 more than Tenney, R-New Hartford, in the last quarter, and now has more campaign cash than the first-term congresswoman, according to reports filed today with the Federal Election Commission in Washington.

Brindisi raised about $308,000 in the last quarter of 2017, compared to $208,000 for Tenney, the FEC reports show. As a result, Brindisi began the year with $581,851 in his campaign bank account, while Tenney had $563,538.

Democrats and Republicans have identified the 22nd Congressional District race as one of their top priorities in the 2018 mid-term election, and the national parties and special-interest groups are expected to spend millions on the race.

Political analysts in Washington are closely watching the race, and have listed Tenney as one of the 10 most vulnerable House members.

Brindisi's campaign said today his early success at fundraising is an indication of the strong support he has built over the past six months since kicking off his congressional bid in late June.

Tenney has said she expects that Brindisi will raise more money for the election, noting she has been outspent in all of her previous campaigns, including her three terms in the state Assembly.

In the third quarter of 2017, Brindisi raised about $412,000 compared to $212,000 for Tenney.

Brindisi has refused to accept contributions from corporations through political action committees, or PACs, but he has accepted money from non-corporate PACs including labor unions.

The 22nd Congressional District covers all of Madison, Oneida, Cortland and Chenango counties and portions of Oswego, Broome, Herkimer, and Tioga counties.

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