This week, the first campaign finance reports since the May primaries were released, showing that Republicans are spending and raising significantly more money than their Democratic opponents in almost all contested state elections.
The reports cover a two-month period between April 29 and June 30, providing information from about two weeks before the May 14 primaries, in which many Democrats faced no opponent.
governor
In the race for governor is Republican candidate and current Attorney General Patrick Morrisey currently has about $1.1 million in cash, compared to nearly $53,000 held by his Democratic opponent, Huntington Mayor Steve Williams.
In the second quarter of the year alone, Morrisey raised nearly $1.7 million—about 32% of the $5.3 million his campaign has raised so far this year.
The Morrisey campaign’s biggest spend in May and June was on placed media, where the campaign spent about $1.2 million on seven different buys with three different companies. That’s nearly four times what the campaign spent in all other categories combined during the same period – travel expenses, mailings, paid campaign staff and more.
Williams — who raised about $46,000 in May and June and has raised nearly $82,000 to date — said he spent nearly $23,600 on just four items in the second quarter of the year: three ad buys valued at about $22,000 and one fundraising spend totaling nearly $1,500. Williams’ spending this quarter reportedly represents more than 92% of his spending to date.
Attorney General
For the race for Attorney General: Republican candidate and current State Auditor JB McCuskey has about $21,000 in cash after spending most of the $1.1 million raised so far this election cycle.
McCuskey’s spending totaled nearly $297,000 in May and June, with the majority – $210,000 – going to advertising. In addition, nine different expenses were made to several different companies both locally and nationally.
Attorney Teresa Toriseva, McCuskey’s Democratic opponent for the seat, reported At the end of the second quarter, she will have about $1,600 on hand. So far, her campaign has raised about $37,000.
In the second quarter of the year, Toriseva spent about $6,000 on 11 expenses. The majority of that money—more than $5,000—went to her campaign manager, Steve McElroy ($2,000 in salary, about $2,700 in travel expenses, and $345 in campaign reimbursement).
Foreign Minister
Kris Warner, who is running as a Republican for the post of Secretary of State currently held by his brother Mac Warner, has raised nearly $146,000 for his campaign so far. According to the Latest reportsHe has about $6,700 in cash after spending about $138,000 on the campaign so far.
In May and June, Kris Warner raised nearly $36,000 and spent about $51,000. Most of that spending, like most Republican candidates, went toward ad buys and media totaling about $42,000 in the second quarter of 2024.
On the Democratic side, candidate Thornton Cooper has increased So far, about $16,000 has been raised, including $4,000 in the last two months. Cooper reportedly has about $14,000 on hand from the campaign.
In the second quarter of the year, Cooper spent $153—$15 on banking fees and $138 on travel expenses.
