As we head towards the primary, campaign finance reports showing how the candidates did in the first three months of the year are now being posted. Here is a rundown of some of the most closely-watched races.
U.S. Senate
After a week of difficult polling news showing him trailing Congressman Ted Budd, former Governor Pat McCrory was able to crow a little bit over the most recent fundraising reports in the U.S. Senate.
“Per our latest campaign fundraising report that was just filed with the FEC – we not only out-raised Ted Budd this quarter, but we also spent far less than him, and have taken over the lead in cash-on-hand,” tweeted McCrory.
McCrory’s report shows he has raised $4.1 million for his U.S. Senate race. McCrory reported he has $2.2 million for the final weeks of the campaign.
Overall Congressman Ted Budd raised about the same over the last year. He has $1.9 million cash on hand for the final weeks of his U.S. Senate effort.
As Carolina Journal has reported, the driving factor in this race has been outside spending from the Club for Growth Action group. They have pledged to spend $14 million to boost Budd and the massive ad spending has lifted Budd in the polls.
Veteran and Republican Senate candidate Marjorie Eastman raised more than $370,000 in the first quarter, bringing her total amount raised to nearly $800,000. She has about $440,000 cash on hand. This quarter, Eastman out-raised Former U.S. Representative Mark Walker who took in just under $105,000 in the first quarter. Walker has raised $1.6 million total and has a little more than $500,000 in cash on hand.
NC 1st District – Republicans
Rocky Mount Mayor Sandy Roberson has the most money available down the stretch, having pledged $1 million of his own money for the race. He has a little more that $750,000 to spend in the final weeks.
Previous nominee Sandy Smith of Winterville has raised $1.2 million for her efforts to once again capture the nomination. She has $232,000 cash on hand.
Billy Strickland of Goldsboro had raised $291,000 and has $222,000 cash on hand.
Brad Murphy of Macon has raised $188,000 and has $161,000 cash on hand.
Brent Roberson of Williamston has raised $75,000 and has $26,000 cash on hand.
NC-1 – Democrats
Former state Sen. Erica Smith, who transitioned her campaign from running for the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate to one running for Congress, has raised $785,000 and has $102,000 cash on hand
State Sen. Don Davis has raised less, $426,000 but will have more to spend down the stretch with $324,000 cash on hand.
NC-13 – Democrats
North Carolina’s most competitive congressional district this year is the new NC-13, which includes southern Wake County, all of Johnston County as well as parts of Wayne and Harnett counties.
On the Democratic side, State Senator Wiley Nickel, D-Wake, is leading the blue team. He loaned his campaign $900,000 and has about a million to spend. Former State Senator Sam Searcy who only started raising money in March, loaned his campaign $200,000 and has about $225,000 left to spend. The remaining candidates are far behind.
NC-13 – Republicans
Kelly Daughtry, a Smithfield attorney raised roughly $259,000 this quarter, and she loaned her campaign another $2 million.
Kent Keirsey’s campaign raised more than $204,000 over the period, plus a $50,000 loan from the candidate.
Bo Hines raised $119,000 over the quarter almost all from outside the 13th District. But if Hines wins it will be in part because Club for Growth Action will spend $1.3. million to get him elected after the 26-year old was endorsed by former President Trump
Former U.S. Rep. Renee Ellmers, bringing in just over $10,000 in the first three months of the year.
Wake county preacher Chad Slotta raised nearly $50,000 and loaned his campaign $110,000.. DeVan Barbour raised over $80,000.
NC-11 – Republicans
State Senator Chuck Edwards reported $391,000 cash on hand. After Edwards with $288,000 cash on hand, was Bruce O’Connell, owner of the popular Pisgah Inn on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Incumbent U.S. Madison Cawthorn was in third place heading into April, with $242,000 cash on hand.
Cawthorn has raised and spent a ton of money in the primary.
From January-March 2022 Cawthorn raised $3.5 million and spent $3.4 million. A massive sum in a relatively inexpensive advertising market. Cawthorn’s campaign spent $3.4 million from January through March, and Edwards spent just $255,000. Down the stretch Edwards does have more funds on hand.