Queen City Democrats are already struggling to find even a token candidate to run for Manchester mayor in November, and incumbent Republican Jay Ruais isn’t making it any easier.
After receiving the endorsement from the IAFF Local 856 Firefighters Union, Ruais’ reelection campaign announced he has officially raised more than $500,000. And the first-term mayor has more than $450,000 in cash on hand, the campaign says.
“Combined with the overwhelmingly positive feedback received while knocking on over 1,000 doors, this record fundraising shows Mayor Ruais well-positioned to continue delivering results on behalf of the people of the Queen City for another term,” the campaign said in a statement.
Veteran GOP campaign professional and longtime Manchester resident Jim Merrill says he isn’t surprised Ruais is “a fundraising powerhouse.”
“Through Jay Ruais’ tough, sensible leadership, Manchester has made enormous progress and is the economic engine of northern New England,” Merrill said. “The mayor is a natural leader with boundless energy, pushing every day to improve the city he loves.”
Manchester isn’t a deep-blue enclave, but it has leaned Democratic for years. In 2023, Ruais faced off against well-known Democratic Alderman Kevin Cavanaugh, who was running to replace outgoing Democrat Joyce Craig. Ruais won a narrow victory in a tough electoral climate for Republicans.
Ruais’ campaign spent about $400,000 on the 2023 campaign, according to published reports.
“I am deeply humbled by the continued momentum and growth in our support since launching our reelect. This is proof that a positive effort, focused on delivering results and bringing people together, yields success for our community,” Ruais said.
