Deese Campaign Surges to Strong Start with Nearly $7,000 Raised, Qualifying for Matching Funds
Buffalo, NY – On the first day of the 2026 election cycle, Kevin Deese, candidate in the open-seat 2026 Democratic Primary for New York State’s 149th Assembly District, announced that his campaign has raised nearly $7,000 from more than 100 donors and has surpassed the threshold to become eligible for the State’s Public Campaign Finance Program. Accounting for matching funds to be disbursed at a future date, Deese’s campaign enters the 2026 cycle with more than $50,000 earned in accrued revenue.
“I am humbled by the faith that this community has shown in our campaign after less than one month since formally announcing,” Deese said. “We didn’t even have a website up, but folks believe in the need to change the game in Albany, and they believe I’m the right person to start to change it. I don’t take their confidence lightly, and I will continue to put in the work to earn support from voters across this district.”
More than 85% of donors and dollars raised by the campaign to date are from Western New York. The average contribution amount per donor to date was approximately $57. Deese’s early haul establishes him as a candidate with staying power in an open-seat race that may attract a crowded primary field.
Those interested in getting involved with Deese for Assembly can visit www.kevindeese.com to learn more.
About New York State’s Public Campaign Finance Program (PCFP)
The PCFP provides matching funds to qualifying state-wide and state legislative campaigns at rates as high as twelve-to-one for in-district contributions between $5 and $250 per covered election. In order to qualify, a campaign for the 149th Assembly District must raise $4,000 from at least 75 residents of the district.* 2026 is only the second election cycle in which candidates can participate in the PCFP, which was established in 2020 and had its first full election cycle with the 2024 state-wide and legislative races.
*Additional eligibility criteria apply
