From left: Jim Cooper, Justin Jones, Keeda Haynes
U.S. Rep. Jim Cooper (D-Nashville) is ramping up his fundraising apparatus as he faces a multifront challenge for the Democratic nomination.
Cooper raised $166,910 in the fourth quarter of 2019. That's a sizable increase from the less than $50,000 he raised during the same period in the 2018 cycle, when he faced no competition for the nomination.
Justin Jones, a local student and activist, announced a primary challenge of Cooper in November, making the argument that Cooper, who has been in Congress for nearly three decades, is not progressive enough on issues including climate change, health care and criminal justice.
Cooper has not faced a primary challenger who raised any money since he returned to Congress in 2003. During the fourth quarter, Jones raised $19,200.54 and spent more than $3,000. His financial supporters included Metro Councilmember Sean Parker as well as Tequila Johnson, an Equity Alliance co-founder now working as presidential candidate Tom Steyer’s Tennessee state director.
Johnson said she also plans to support Keeda Haynes, a former public defender who entered the Democratic primary in January and will not have to report fundraising activity until later this year.
Cooper’s support comes in part from political committees of defense contractors, tobacco companies and tech firms. Jones has pledged not to accept funds from corporate political action committees. Cooper’s donors also include prominent local executives including Nashville Predators Chairman Herb Fritch, Vanderbilt Law School Dean Chris Guthrie and real estate developer Bert Mathews.
Cooper has nearly $900,000 on hand ahead of the August primary, compared to Jones’ roughly $16,000.
Joshua Rawlings, a former Republican seeking the Democratic nomination, raised a little more than $5,000 in the fourth quarter. Meredith Mattlin, a Democratic Socialist and Vanderbilt researcher seeking the nomination, did not meet the $5,000 threshold required to disclose fundraising, nor did independent Craig Wildenradt, who is also running. No Republican has so far entered the race.
