By Christopher Conover and Andrea Kelly
Democrat Ron Barber was the fundraising winner in CD 8. He raised more than half a million dollars for his race to replace his former boss in the special election in Congressional District 8.
Republican Frank Anterori, however, was the biggest surprise in the fundraising arena. Antenori’s reports were filed five days late and he raised only $36,689 while spending nearly $50,000. At the end of the reporting period, Antenori’s campaign was $2,900 in the red.
Antenori received only 34 donations according to his federal report. Many of those were high dollar donations. One political action committee, the Southern Arizona Conservative PAC, gave the state senator $500.
Republican Dave Sitton was the second most successful fundraiser bringing in $260,550. All of Sitton’s money came from individuals, he did not receive any donations from Political Action Committees. Of the Republicans, Sitton also has the highest percentage of his take still in the bank with $132,000 still on hand. He doesn’t list paying any campaign staff salaries other than a few small payments in December.
Sitton brought in big dollars from well-known GOP voters in Southern Arizona including developer Don Diamond and Jim Click.
Jesse Kelly was the number two fundraiser for the GOP during the first reporting period. He raised $210,000. About 8 percent of that was from PACs. The largest single donation came from the conservative and nationally active PAC Citizens United. That group gave Kelly $10,000. At the end of the reporting period Kelly had about $40,000 in his campaign account.
Many of Kelly’s biggest individual donors were family members including his father. Notably, a number of family members from his former campaign manager also gave Kelly money.
Political newcomer Martha McSally raised nearly $133,000 in her first foray into campaigning. Most of her money came from individuals though she did receive some PAC money. McSally spent nearly $90,000 on her campaign and has $44,000 in the bank.
Democrat Ron Barber has more than 80 percent of his $549,000 raised in the bank. He did receive some notable donations. Gabrielle Giffords gave the maximum $5,000 donation as did her husband. A number of members of the Giffords family also gave to the Barber campaign. Nan Walden, who had entertained a run for a full term and has since dropped out, also gave Barber a sizable donation.
The Giffords for Congress campaign also gave Barber the maximum amount allowable by law. The campaign finance report indicates that Barber is using many of the campaign staff from Giffords’ last run for Congress.
Some members of Arizona Public Media’s Community Advisory Board have contributed to these campaigns. The CAB is not involved in AZPM editorial issues or operations.
Frank Antenori’s Campaign Finance Report
Ron Barber’s Campaign Finance Reports
Jesse Kelly’s Campaign Finance Reports
Martha McSally’s Campaign Finance Reports
Dave Sitton’s Campaign Finance Reports
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