U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., marches in the St. Patrick’s Day Parade through downtown Milford, Conn. Saturday, Mar. 21, 2015.
A tough slog for Connecticut Republicans — challenging Richard Blumenthal in 2016 — is about to become more daunting.
The state’s senior U.S. senator raised more than $1 million during the first three months of the year for his re-election bid, padding a war chest that is now up to $1.6 million cash on hand, according to Blumenthal’s April 15 filing with the Federal Election Commission.
Jonathan Soros, the son of billionaire hedge fund manager and liberal rainmaker George Soros, contributed $2,500 to Blumenthal.
So far, no Republicans have stepped forward to run against Blumenthal, whose approval rating was 64 percent in a March 12 Quinnipiac University Poll.
Blumenthal, 69, who is in his first term and was ranked the eight wealthiest member of Congress this year by Roll Call, raised $234,150 from PACs and other committees during the first quarter.
General Dynamics, the parent of Groton-based submarine builder Electric Boat, gave Blumenthal $5,000 from its political action committee. Blumenthal has been a staunch ally in the Senate of Connecticut’s defense industry.
The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen gave Blumenthal, who has crusaded for safety improvements by the MTA and Metro-North Railroad after a string of fatal accidents, $2,500.