Because it’s a holiday, official financial fundraising reports for candidates aren’t due to the Alaska Public Offices Commission until Tuesday. However, as of Monday afternoon, some numbers were dribbling in.
Alaska state Sen. Hollis French, who’s running for lieutenant governor and has already filed with APOC, reported raising $51,328 from Oct. 30, 2014 through Feb. 1, 2014. French brought $22,605 into the campaign, and spent $12,233, leaving him $61,700 cash on hand.
French’s fundraising total isn’t likely going to match the GOP lieutenant governor candidates. Both Sen. Lesil McGuire and Anchorage Mayor Dan Sullivan have said that they raised in the ballpark of $100,000 apiece. However, $61,700 on hand is a pretty good number for French.
As reported earlier, Gov. Sean Parnell raised $407,253, and had over $330,000 on hand.
Democratic gubernatorial candidate Byron Mallott beat expectations by raising more than $230,000. However, he hasn’t filed his report yet and it’s unclear how much money he spent raising that amount.
Finally, independent candidate for governor Bill Walker hasn’t released his official report, but he did send out a release on Monday saying that he raised more than $200,000, also beating expectations. According to the release, that number includes $29,000 of his own money.
Walker said that unlike Parnell, he has to pay for his own travel.
Contact Amanda Coyne at amandamcoyne@yahoo.com
Everyone seems obsessed with how much a candidate reported raising. The real issue should be how much cash is on hand for the campaign. This is where Governor Parnell did well. Also, Hollis French. It will be interesting to you what the Republican candidates for lite governor has done in this area.
Does spending your money wisely as a candidate mean you give your ex-con, ex-husband money for his pr/advertising expertise?
The real test will be WHO gave and how much money was added by each candidate personally.
It’s publicly obvious that Sen. McGuire is supported heavily by union people at fundraisers….which doesn’t look good for a conservative republican.
It will also be telling to see what conservative candidate has spent their funds and how conservatively.
Surprised that McGuireand Mayor Dan raised similar amounts. Not sure what to make of it. Did she do really well or did the mayor do poorly? Or was that expected ? Thought a mayor would significantly outraise a state senator.
And Treadwell would be broke if he paid for his own travel.