It looks like Democrat Tamie Wilson thinks she’s got a shot at unseating House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan in Ohio’s 4th Congressional District. She’s confident with a whopping $1 million in her campaign coffers, but let’s be honest—she’s facing a steep climb against Jordan in a district that’s as red as they come.
Wilson proudly announced her fundraising achievement, noting that a significant boost came in July through mid-August, just as President Joe Biden bowed out of the 2024 race. Her campaign raked in $178,000 during that period, which she credits to the excitement surrounding Vice President Kamala Harris’s entry into the presidential race. Before that, Wilson had been slogging away, accumulating nearly $822,000 since January 2023. But let’s not kid ourselves—money isn’t votes, especially in Jordan’s deep-red district.
Wilson’s optimism seems to hinge on the wave of enthusiasm generated by Harris’s campaign. After Biden’s exit and endorsement of Harris, Wilson’s campaign reportedly saw $100,000 flow within two days. Meanwhile, Harris herself shattered fundraising records, pulling in a staggering $81 million within 24 hours of Biden’s announcement on July 21. Wilson eagerly attributes her financial success to Harris, calling it a “blessing” that Biden stepped aside. But does she really think that cash is going to translate into enough votes to oust Jordan? Talk about wishful thinking.
Wilson might have raised more money than any other Democrat who’s tried to take down Jordan in his 17 years in Congress, but let’s put things in perspective. Jordan didn’t just outpace Wilson last election cycle—he obliterated her. During the 2022 midterms, Wilson lost by nearly 40 percentage points, and Jordan’s campaign banked almost $14 million to her measly $170,439. As of June this year, Jordan’s war chest holds over $10.5 million, with $10.3 million in cash ready to deploy. So yeah, Wilson might be excited about her fundraising, but in the face of Jordan’s financial firepower, it’s a drop in the bucket.
Wilson is trying to make Jordan’s decision not to support the CHIPS Act her main line of attack. She claims that his opposition to the bill, which would enable Intel to build semiconductor factories in Ohio, is a critical misstep. But let’s be honest—Jordan’s stance on the CHIPS Act isn’t likely to sway many voters in a district that’s been solidly Republican for decades.
Wilson’s campaign remains an underdog story even with this recent fundraising surge. Sure, the excitement over Harris’s candidacy might have Democrats feeling more energized, but let’s not confuse enthusiasm with electoral success. Wilson’s district isn’t competitive—it’s a Republican stronghold with an R+20 rating from the Cook Political Report. And while Wilson talks about her campaign being “on fire” and “completely out of control,” those flames might be burning up whatever slim chance she had.
Wilson did manage to win her party’s primary, beating fellow Democrat Steve Thomas, but that’s hardly a harbinger of success in the general election. She must pull off a miracle to win over independents, manufacturing workers, and veterans in the 4th district—groups that have consistently supported Jordan.
Meanwhile, Jordan isn’t just sitting on his hands. As a close ally of former President Donald Trump and the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, he’s been leading the charge against what conservatives see as overreach by the Biden administration. He’s also at the helm of the House Weaponization Committee, which was formed to investigate allegations of bias at the Justice Department and other federal agencies. Jordan’s position and influence in Congress only strengthen his standing in his district.
So, while Wilson may be celebrating her fundraising milestone, let’s not forget the mountain she still has to climb. Jordan’s district is solidly Republican, and no amount of money is likely to change that. Wilson can keep dreaming, but the reality is Jordan’s got this one locked down.
