Steny Hoyer

U.S. Rep. Paul Kanjorski (D-Nanticoke) is bringing in a big fundraising gun Tuesday as he attempts to fight off a stiff Republican challenge for his seat.

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer is hosting a fundraiser this evening for Kanjorski. The event is scheduled to take place at Washington’s Charlie Palmer steakhouse. Ed Mitchell, a Kanjorski spokesman, did not provide any further details on the event.

As of the end of the first quarter, Kanjorski had received $14,000 through Hoyer's personal campaign committee and his leadership fund, AmeriPAC.

Kanjorski is running for a 13th term this fall. He is facing a November rematch with Hazelton Mayor Lou Barletta, an anti-immigration hardliner whom Kanjorski defeated in 2002. On Monday Barletta’s campaign announced that it had raised more than $330,000 since April 2 and has $320,000 in cash on hand. Kanjorski’s campaign has not yet announced its second quarter fundraising totals, though at the end of March it had more than $1.8 million on hand.