Three takeaways from latest statewide campaign fundraising reports

The latest campaign finance reports for statewide candidates running in the November 6 general election were due on Monday, and the numbers revealed some clear storylines with voting to occur in less than three weeks time.

The reports were the first “weekly” disclosures due in the lead up to the election, with the next ones being due on Monday, October 22. Generally, Republican dominance continued in the top contested races, with the exception being the race for Chief Justice.

Here are the top three takeaways:

1. Governor Kay Ivey continues to pummel Walt Maddox in fundraising, even with the Democratic nominee and Tuscaloosa mayor being funneled hundreds of thousands from one group of PACs in his hometown. In the latest reporting period, Ivey raised $269,133 to Maddox’s $102,280. Ivey is ahead by 20 – 25 percent in the polls and is winning the message battle as well.
2. Despite polling showing an underwhelming, losing performance by Democratic nominee for Chief Justice, Judge Bob Vance, donors continue to pour money into his campaign while Associate Justice Tom Parker seems content to coast to victory without lifting a finger. Parker, the Republican nominee, only raised $1,050 since October 1 while Vance raked in $153,401 – more than his own party’s much-hyped nominee for governor. Vance set himself up to have at least over $700,000 to spend on television advertising the last three weeks of the campaign, so expect a bombardment of his ads.
3. Democrats’ last-ditch hope is that massive out-of-state, dark money spending opposing constitutional Amendment Two will drive liberals to the polls and serve as a substitute for the lack of an organized, well-funded state Democratic Party. PACs opposing this pro-life amendment are set to spend well over $800,000 in the remaining 20 days before November 6, attempting to raise Democratic turnout and affect down-ballot races that many Alabamians will not even bother to vote in. You can negate this kind of backdoor tactic by getting out to vote and filling out the entire ballot, not just the top of the ticket.

Sean Ross is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @sean_yhn