Sen. Michael Lee, R-New Hanover, and newly elected Sen. Terrence Everitt, D-Granville, held some of the most highly contested seats in the North Carolina Senate, each raising over $3 million in campaign funds for the 2024 election.

Lee topped the fundraising charts, bringing in more than $3.3 million—making it the highest total of any senate race in the election cycle. Everitt, who also secured a victory, raised just over $3 million, according to third-quarter campaign finance reports. Both Lee and Everitt significantly outpaced their Democratic and Republican challengers.

David Hill, who ran against Lee, raised just over $1.4 million—less than half of Lee’s total. In the race against Everitt, Republican challenger Ashlee Bryan Adams raised more than $2.8 million, coming much closer to her opponent’s fundraising total.

“Senate districts 7 (Lee) and 18 (Everitt) are some of the most competitive districts in the state and were two of the more expensive seats back in 2022; a trend that appears to have continued in this election,” Jim Stirling, a research fellow at the John Locke Foundation, told the Carolina Journal. “Early in 2023, I assumed that District 18 was going to surpass its prior record-breaking numbers from 2022 when Senator Marry Willis Bode spent more than $2.8 million, but when Bode opted not to run, I assumed we would not see the state’s first $3 million State senate this year, but it seems we now have two.”

Lee and Everitt’s campaign expenditures closely matched their fundraising totals. Lee spent over $3.2 million, while Everitt’s expenses totaled just over $3 million. Everitt’s donations exceeded his expenditures by less than $25,000.

Hill’s expenses totaled more than $1.4 million in the race against Lee. Adams’ expenditures rivaled her donations, with her expenses coming in at more than $2.8 million. Her donations only exceeded her expenditures by less than $50,000.

Another high-budget campaign was led by Sen. Phil Berger, R-Rockingham, who raised $2.9 million, making him the third-highest fundraiser. His Democratic opponent, Steve Luking, raised $82,102. Berger’s spending closely matched his fundraising, totaling $2.8 million, while Luking spent $67,480.

Other notable legislative races included Sen. Lisa Barnes, R-Nash; Rep. Tricia Cotham, R-Mecklenburg; and newly-elected Sen. Woodson Bradley, D-Mecklenburg.

Barnes raised over $2.1 million, while her Democratic challenger, James Mercer, raised just over $2 million. Barnes spent slightly more than she raised, with expenditures exceeding $2.2 million. Mercer’s fundraising surpassed his spending by less than $52,000.

Bradley raised over $989,736, while her Republican opponent, Stacie McGinn, raised more than $1.6 million despite losing. Bradley spent $741,776, while McGinn’s expenditures totaled $709,665.

Cotham raised $673,919 in the third quarter, while her Democratic challenger, Nicole Sidman, raised over $1.4 million but ultimately lost. Cotham spent $556,446, compared to Sidman’s $1.1 million.

Legislative race expenditures compiled by the John Lock Foundation.

“Fourth quarter reports typically don’t have many changes from the prior report, simply because the third quarter is so close to the election,” said Stirling. “But it some races, in particular these close elections, we can see major shifts.  For example, Cotham received nearly $476,000 during the last quarter, with a large portion of this funds coming from party contributions directly to her campaign.”

Note: All numbers are from third-quarter reports unless otherwise indicated.