Aided by a May 3 fundraiser featuring former President and Gov. Bill Clinton, Democratic gubernatorial candidate Mike Ross more than doubled the campaign funds raised by Republican gubernatorial candidate Asa Hutchinson between April 1 and Saturday , according to their latest campaign finance reports.
Reports from candidates in contested primaries were due Tuesday in the secretary of state's office. The reports for the other candidates, who are unopposed in Tuesday's primary, are due Thursday.
Ross, a former 4th District congressman who lives in Little Rock, raised $491,500 and spent $506,973, according to his filing. He reported spending $124,416 on television advertising, $88,479 on printing expenses and $72,740 on campaign workers.
"We don't have a final, specific number for the Clinton event as some contributions are still coming in and processing, but it did help give us our biggest month this year so far," said Ross spokesman Brad Howard.
In total, Ross has reported raising $4.4 million, spending $2.5 million, leaving $1.9 million in the bank.
Hutchinson, an attorney and former 3rd District congressman who lives in Rogers, raised $240,375 and spent $579,927 in the period from April 1 through Saturday, according to his report. He reported spending $439,046 on television advertising in this period.
Overall, Hutchinson has reported raising $2.2 million in contributions, loaning his campaign $62,000 and spending $1.45 million, leaving $903,858 in the bank.
Hutchinson raised more than Ross did during each of the first two months of this year but trailed Ross in March.
Dustin Smith, Ross' deputy campaign manager for finance, said these latest fundraising reports "continue to show the strong momentum and support across the state for Mike Ross' plans to improve education, increase access to pre-k, create more and better-paying jobs and fight for lower, fairer taxes.
"With a $1 million cash on hand advantage over his opponents, Mike Ross is in a very strong position to compete for the long haul and to win in November," Smith said in a written statement.
Hutchinson's campaign manager, Jon Gilmore, said that "we are grateful to our supporters for investing in our campaign and allowing us to share the Asa Plan of job creation with all Arkansans.
"While recent public polling shows that momentum is building for Asa against the Ross-Burkhalter ticket, we are focused on a strong victory in the Republican primary next week," Gilmore said in a written statement.
John Burkhalter of Little Rock, a businessman and former state highway commissioner, is the lone Democratic candidate for lieutenant governor.
Hutchinson's Republican opponent, Curtis Coleman of Little Rock, reported raising $62,060 and spending $72,623 between April 1-Saturday. The amount that Coleman raised during this period included a $10,000 contribution from himself.
Coleman, chairman of the Curtis Coleman Institute on Constitutional Policy, reported total contributions of $497,777, loaning his campaign a total of $41,427 and spending $533,320, leaving $5,883 in the bank.
A report for Ross' Democratic opponent, substitute teacher Lynette Bryant of Little Rock, wasn't available through the secretary of state's office as of Tuesday at 6 p.m.
LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR
U.S. Rep. Tim Griffin of Little Rock, a Republican, raised $148,646 and spent $197,086 from April 1-Saturday, according to his report.
That increased his total contributions to $457,740 and his total expenses to $240,554, leaving $217,186 in the bank.
State Rep. Andy Mayberry, R-East End, raised $3,585, loaned his campaign $175 and spent $3,634 during that period, according to his filing. He's reported receiving total contributions of $18,565, loaning his campaign $3,224 and spending $21,692, leaving $565 in the bank.
State Rep. Debra Hobbs, R-Rogers, raised $325 and spent $11,687 last month, according to her filing.
In total, Hobbs has raised $325 in contributions, loaned her campaign $34,873 and spent $23,879, leaving $11,320 in the bank, she reported.
ATTORNEY GENERAL
Attorney David Sterling, a Republican from Little Rock, received $21,995 in contributions and spent $126,120 from April 1-Saturday, according to his filing.
He's raised a total of $188,469 in contributions, loaned his campaign $9,703 and spent $190,007, leaving $8,165 in the bank.
Attorney Leslie Rutledge, a Little Rock Republican, raised $28,860 in contributions, loaned her campaign $3,616 and spent $78,932 last month , according to her filing.
In total, she reported $229,124 in contributions, loaning her campaign $6,516 and spending $138,006, leaving her with $93,992 in the bank as of April 30.
A report for the other Republican in the race, attorney Patricia Nation of Jacksonville, was not available through the secretary of state's office as of Tuesday at 6 p.m.
TREASURER
State Rep. Duncan Baird, a Republican from Lowell, reported raising $16,250 and spending $45,091 from April 1-Saturday. In total, he raised $64,526 in contributions, loaned his campaign $11,167 and spent $62,766, leaving $12,927 in the bank.
Saline County Circuit Clerk Dennis Milligan of Benton, a Republican, raised $3,600 in contributions, loaned his campaign $4,000 and spent $50,497, he reported. In total, he's raised $82,876 in contributions, loaned his campaign $47,183 and spent $117,599, leaving $12,459 in the bank.
AUDITOR
Ken Yang of Benton, a Republican who formerly worked for the Family Council, reported raising $4,294 and spending $20,995 from April 1-May 10.
In total, he reported raising $38,878 in contributions, loaning his campaign $21,262 and spending $37,686, leaving $21,954 in the bank.
A report for his Republican foe, state Rep. Andrea Lea of Russellville, was not available through the secretary of state's office Tuesday as of 6 p.m.
SUPREME COURT POSITION No.2
Attorney Tim Cullen of Little Rock raised $82,860 and spent $80,757 between April 1-Saturday, according to his filing.
In total, he's received $116,325 in contributions, loaned his campaign $12,000 and spent $117,653, leaving $10,672 in the bank.
Court of Appeals Judge Robin Wynne of Fordyce raised $13,000 and spent $63,398 from April 1-Saturday, according to his filing. In total, he's received $93,345 in contributions and spent $85,726, leaving $7,619 in the bank.
Metro on 05/14/2014