DeJear improves, but Reynolds still dominates Iowa gubernatorial candidate fundraising

Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds addresses supporters March 11 throughout a marketing campaign occasion for her re-election at The Resort at Kirkwood Heart in Cedar Rapids. (Geoff Stellfox/The Gazette)

DES MOINES — After posting paltry fundraising numbers over the primary four-plus months of her marketing campaign for Iowa governor, Democrat Deidre DeJear fared much better to date in 2022.

However she nonetheless is lagging far behind the tempo of the incumbent governor, Republican Kim Reynolds.

After elevating simply lower than $280,000 within the final four-plus months of 2021, DeJear reported elevating almost $740,000 within the first four-plus months of this yr, in response to state marketing campaign information.

However that also pales compared to the $1.3 million raised by Reynolds over the identical interval this yr.

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Deidre DeJear speaks March 12 throughout an look on the James Theater, 213 N Gilbert St., in Iowa Metropolis. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

Thursday was an election yr reporting deadline for state candidates in Iowa. Candidates had been required to report all fundraising from Jan. 1 by way of Could 14. They are going to be required to file one other report earlier than the June 7 major election, for which early voting is underway.

DeJear completed the interval with simply lower than $382,000 left in her marketing campaign account. Reynolds, in the meantime, completed the interval sitting on a shade underneath $5 million within the financial institution.

Reynolds turned governor in 2017 when former Gov. Terry Branstad was named U.S. ambassador to China. The state’s first-ever feminine governor, Reynolds received her 2018 election over Democrat Fred Hubbell by simply lower than 3 proportion factors.

A Des Moines Register/Mediacom Iowa Ballot from Selzer and Co., revealed in March, confirmed Reynolds with an 8-point lead over DeJear, 51 to 43 %.

State company campaigns

Two Democratic state company administrators, every of whom is the longest-tenured within the nation’s historical past, proceed to be outpaced in marketing campaign fundraising by their Republican challengers.

Tom Miller, a Democrat and the longest-serving state legal professional common in U.S. historical past, raised simply lower than $170,000 within the interval. However Republican Brenna Hen, a former member of Branstad’s employees, raised greater than $293,000 within the interval.

Mike Fitzgerald, a Democrat and the longest-serving state treasurer in U.S. historical past, raised simply $22,000 to the $79,000 raised by Republican Roby Smith, a retiring state legislator from Davenport.

Rob Sand, a Democrat who’s ending his first time period as state auditor, is faring much better. He raised $222,000 within the interval and completed with greater than $1 million in his marketing campaign account. These numbers dwarf the fundraising posted by a pair of potential Republican challengers, Mary Ann Hanusa ($25,000 raised within the interval) and Todd Halbur ($7,000).

Legislative leaders

And Democrats did effectively on the statehouse stage, with each chambers’ leaders outraising their Republican counterparts.

Legislative leaders sometimes use their fundraising to assist their fellow candidates in statehouse races throughout the state.

Zach Wahls, a Democrat from Coralville who leads the minority Democrats within the Iowa Senate, raised $159,000 within the interval. That was greater than 7.5 instances the $21,000 raised by Jack Whitver, the Republican Senate Majority Chief.

Nonetheless, because of earlier fundraising efforts, Whitver completed the interval with almost $570,000 in his marketing campaign account. Wahls completed with $370,000.

Within the Iowa Home, Democratic chief Jennifer Konfrst ($45,000) outraised Republican Speaker Pat Grassley ($39,000). Nonetheless, Grassley completed the interval with extra in his account ($375,000) that Konfrst ($147,000).

Democrats additionally fared effectively in what might be one of the crucial high-profile and aggressive statehouse campaigns this yr.

Sarah Trone Garriott, a Democratic senator from West Des Moines, raised greater than $107,000 — a big whole for a single statehouse marketing campaign. Trone Garriott is operating towards Republican Senate President Jake Chapman, from Adel, who raised simply $18,000 within the interval, though he has $153,000 in his account.

The state’s decennial redrawing of political maps put the incumbent Sens. Trone Garriott and Chapman into the identical district.

Statehouse candidates throughout a legislative session can not settle for donations from political organizations; they will solely settle for donations from people.

The Iowa Legislature stays in session as Reynolds and Senate Republicans have held out hope their colleagues within the Iowa Home will comply with cross laws that may create taxpayer-funded scholarships for personal faculty tuition help.

Feedback: (515) 355-1300, erin.murphy@thegazette.com