Smucker has $1M in hand ahead of next year’s reelection campaign, shares the wealth with other Republican candidates

• By Jade Campos / LNP | LancasterOnline

Congressman Lloyd Smucker is leveraging his ability to raise campaign money to help Pennsylvania Republicans hold onto their seats in key areas being targeted by Democrats, according to campaign finance disclosure forms filed this month.

Smucker reported raising $130,483 over the last quarter, from July to September, across multiple campaign fundraising accounts. The Republican has roughly $1 million in the bank heading into the 2026 midterm election where he’ll compete for a sixth term.

From his main campaign account, Smucker for Congress, he gave $10,000 to the Republican Committee of Lancaster County, $5,000 to the York County Republican Committee, $2,500 to the Hempfield Area Republican Committee and $2,000 to the Manheim Township Republican Committee.

Ann Hess, who is running unopposed to retain her seat as the county’s recorder of deeds, received $1,000 from Smucker.

Smucker has also used a leadership committee, JAM PAC, to donate to GOP congressional candidates across the country, including to Republicans running in solid blue states like California and key swing states like Michigan.

In Pennsylvania, Smucker this year donated $2,000 to the reelection campaigns of several incumbent Republicans who are being targeted next year by Democrats — Scott Perry, Rob Bresnahan, Ryan Mackenzie and Brian Fitzpatrick.

“With nearly a million dollars in cash on hand, Smucker for Congress will be well funded to connect with voters in 2026,” campaign spokesperson Jenna Reath said in a statement. “Congressman Smucker is also focused on ensuring candidates across the country, and the National Republican Congressional Committee are fully funded to keep and grow the Republican majority in the House.”

Political action committees from a broad range of industries make up much of Smucker’s donors this year, including the American Physical Therapy Association PAC and the Associated Builders and Contractors PAC.

PACs tend to be Smucker’s largest contributors, in part because of his role on the House Ways and Means Committee, which is charged with writing the country’s tax laws.

Smucker’s largest donation this quarter came from Rick Rodgers, a longtime Lancaster County resident and cofounder of a financial advising firm, who gave $30,000 to the Smucker Victory Committee.

Adam Kidan, a former Manheim Township resident who spent time in federal prison more than 15 years ago after pleading guilty to wire fraud charges, provided $60,000 of in-kind donations to Smucker’s campaign in the first six months of 2025.

Democratic fundraising

Nancy Mannion, a Manheim Township nurse, is outpacing her Democratic opponent, Sarah Klimm, in fundraising. The two are expected to face off in the May 2026 primary election to become the Democratic nominee set to take on Smucker next fall.

Mannion reported raising $32,242 in individual donations ranging in amounts from $25 to $3,500 since she entered the race in July, surpassing the $16,900 raised by Smucker’s 2024 opponent.

“I think I have been very diligently working to build recognition in the district, and I think people are responding to that,” Mannion said. “You have to kind of get out there and build those relationships with the people who are in your district.”

Mannion has received several donations from Lancaster-area Democrats, including School District of Lancaster director Molly Henderson and Donegal Democrats Chair Patrick Gerlach. As of Sept. 30, Mannion reported having $17,429 on hand.

Klimm, a  from York County, raised $4,599 since stepping into the race in June. She is primarily self-funded, with a single outside donation coming from a Virginia resident. Klimm last reported having $902.05 after spending most of her funds on a database software. She did not respond to a request for comment.

Staff departures

While Mannion is leading the Democratic ticket in fundraising efforts, former campaign staff members say the campaign owes them money.

Lowell Briggs, Mannion’s former communications director, said he left Mannion’s campaign in August after he had not been paid for his work. He declined to share a copy of his contract for the campaign with LNP | LancasterOnline but said he was owed several thousand dollars. He said other members of Mannion’s campaign staff, which included three people in total, left for the same reason.

Martha Mitchell, who served as Mannion’s campaign manager, said she left because she had not been fully paid for her work.

“Everybody quit,” Mitchell said. “It’s really tough, it’s really hard to take, because my heart was so in it.”

Mannion denied that her staff had not been paid. She said she still has a team of volunteers working for her.

Mannion’s campaign finance report shows consulting fees paid to Briggs and Mitchell as well as one other consultant totaling more than $11,000. Briggs claimed he never saw the $5,000 Mannion reported paying him. Mitchell said she received the $4,000 that appears on Mannion’s campaign disclosure, though the payments were late and did not make up the full amount of what she said is owed.

Shayne Thoman, Mannion’s campaign treasurer, did not respond to a request for comment.

The Lancaster County Democratic Committee has not yet endorsed a candidate for next year’s race, though Mannion has attended several countywide and local committee events. Tom O’Brien, chair of the county Democrats, declined to comment on the claims made by former staff members and said the party does not keep track of any candidate’s finances. He said the party would encourage any candidate to seek its endorsement.

Mannion said she does not plan to hire staff in the short-run and instead plans to channel spending on the campaign itself.

“It’s probably better to not be spending on salaries and instead building messaging,” she said.