First-time candidate draws national press attention for insurgent campaign against long-serving Massachusetts Democrat
BOSTON, MA – Patrick Roath, Democratic candidate for Congress in Massachusetts’ 8th District, recently announced raising $143,000 in Q3 2025, bringing his total raised to $430,000 in less than five months – all from individual donors without accepting any PAC money.
The campaign has now raised nearly half the war chest that incumbent Rep. Stephen Lynch has accumulated over his 24-year tenure in Congress, and already 70% of what Lynch’s 2020 primary challenger raised over an entire campaign cycle.
Lynch, by contrast, raised only $61,000 in Q3, with the vast majority coming from PACs. He reported just four itemized individual donations for the entire quarter.
National Media Takes Notice
The fundraising disparity has drawn significant national attention:
- Axios featured Roath as being among a small group of “insurgent Democratic candidates… who are raising substantial sums in their bids to unseat older Democratic incumbents,” and separately noted that Roath had out-raised Lynch by “an order of magnitude.”
- Politico Massachusetts Playbook called it “eye-catching” that Roath continued to outraise Lynch, and noted that Lynch raised the least of the entire Massachusetts delegation last quarter.
- NBC News referenced the race nationally, noting “new fundraising reports highlight a collection of competitive primaries in both parties as candidates prepare for the 2026 midterm elections.” Roll Call noted the discrepancy as well.
“This isn’t just about fundraising numbers – it’s about what they represent,” said Patrick Roath. “We are building a robust campaign and finding grassroots support for this people-powered movement. After 24 years, voters are ready for change.”