Rep. Lou Barletta (R-PA) raised more than $1.2 million during the first quarter of 2018, setting a record for the most money he has raised since entering the race to defeat Sen. Bob Casey (D-PA) in the 2018 midterm election.

Cody Jones, Barletta’s Senate campaign manager, said in a statement on Monday:

This was our biggest fundraising quarter yet, and we are excited by the momentum that is building behind Lou’s campaign. Voters are seeing the clear contrast between Bob Casey’s liberal progressive agenda and Lou Barletta’s record of fighting for Pennsylvania families. While Senator Casey has been focused on raising money for his statewide campaigns for the past 22 years, Lou Barletta has been getting results for the people he represents.

Barletta raised two and a half times more money in the first quarter of 2018 than he did compared to the last quarter of 2017. Rep. Barletta also received donations from 17,000 contributors, 93 percent of which were for $100 or less. Barletta’s campaign ended the quarter with more than $1,633,00 cash on hand.

Congressman Barletta announced in March that he collected 1,500 more nomination signatures than Sen. Casey.

“To have this much support in my first statewide campaign is truly humbling,” Barletta said. “Our campaign is working hard to take our message directly to the voters, and I’m inspired by the energy and excitement on our side.”

In February, the Republican party of Pennsylvania unanimously voted to endorse Rep. Lou Barletta for the U.S. Senate.

Several prominent politicians and conservatives have endorsed Barletta for the U.S. Senate seat to defeat Sen. Casey, including President Donald Trump, Vice President Mike Pence, Sen. Pat Toomey (R-PA), the entire Pennsylvania Republican congressional delegation, as well as dozens of Pennsylvania state lawmakers.

Barletta told Breitbart News in an exclusive interview that if he were in the Senate, he could be “the difference, just that one vote,” to repeal Obamacare, secure America’s borders, and stop illegal immigration.

President Donald Trump argued in February that Barletta will “make a FANTASTIC Senator.”

Trump wrote, “Rep. Lou Barletta, a Great Republican from Pennsylvania who was one of my very earliest supporters, will make a FANTASTIC Senator.”

President Trump added, “He is strong & smart, loves Pennsylvania & loves our Country! Voted for Tax Cuts, unlike Bob Casey, who listened to Tax Hikers Pelosi and Schumer!”