Money doesn’t win elections, but it certainly helps.

Most incumbents running in the May 19 primary have outraised their challengers, but that’s not the case in nine legislative races, according to an EdNews analysis.

Of those nine races where challengers are outraising incumbents, five are members of the hardline conservative Gang of Eight. The coalition opposes new government spending.

The most stark example of a challenger outraising an incumbent is in the District 8 race for House Seat B, between Gang of Eight member Rep. Faye Thompson, R-McCall, and Brian Beckley.

Beckley, who resigned in January as board chair for the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation, has raised more than three times that of his opponent. Beckley has drummed up $47,617 to Thompson’s $15,730.

Meanwhile, folks in districts 24 and 25 are speaking with their wallets and siding with the challengers of three other Gang of Eight members, all Twin Falls Republicans.

• Brent Reinke is outraising Sen. Glenneda Zuiderveld.
• Alexandra Caval is outraising Rep. Clint Hostetler.
• Cherie Vollmer is outraising Rep. David Leavitt.

Another Gang of Eight member, Sen. Christy Zito, R-Hammett, falls behind former House Majority Leader Megan Blanksma by a $3,100 margin.

Here are all nine races where challengers have outraised incumbents, according to data on Idaho Sunshine as of April 22: