Money race update: Republicans hold huge advantages in statewide races

Republicans continue to hold huge fundraising advantages heading into the Nov. 8 statewide election, as another monthly reporting deadline arrives.

July fundraising reports will trickle in over the next few days, as candidates report their monthly activity. But candidates must report all donations of $1,000 or more within 48 hours. These “48-hour” reports provide at least a glimpse into recent fundraising activity.

Here’s what’s the statewide candidates have reported since Jan. 1, 2021, the start of the election cycle, along with large donations since July 1.

Governor

Brad Little, Republican. Jan. 1, 2001-present: raised $2,244,503, spent $1,959,114.

Recent large donations: $13,000, including $5,000 from the Idaho Association of Realtors.

Stephen Heidt, Democrat. Jan. 1, 2001-present: raised $16,383, spent $8,759.

No recent large donations.

Ammon Bundy, independent. Jan. 1, 2001-present: raised $451,504, spent $441,189.

Recent large donations: $3,200.

Lieutenant governor

Scott Bedke, Republican. Jan. 1, 2001-present: raised $866,593, spent $834,268.

Recent large donation: $5,000 from the Idaho Association of Realtors.

Terri Pickens Manweiler, Democrat. Jan. 1, 2001-present: raised $200,949, spent $86,319.

Recent large donations: $8,000.

Superintendent of public instruction

Debbie Critchfield, Republican. Jan. 1, 2001-present: raised $359,339, spent $314,637.

Recent large donation: $1,000.

Terry Gilbert, Democrat. Jan. 1, 2001-present: raised $37,376, spent $6,038.

Recent large donations: $10,000, including $5,000 from former Boise school trustee and gubernatorial candidate AJ Balukoff, and $5,000 from Balukoff’s wife, Susie Balukoff.

Attorney general 

Raul Labrador, Republican. Jan. 1, 2001-present: raised $635,885, spent $561,414.

Recent large donations: $6,000, including $1,500 from prominent Boise lobbyist Roy Eiguren.

Tom Arkoosh, Democrat. Jan. 1, 2001-present: raised $13,000.

All of Arkoosh’s contributions are recent. The Boise attorney entered the race just last week. Among his supporters: former U.S. attorney Betty Richardson, who contributed $1,000.

Reclaim Idaho

Jan. 1, 2001-present: raised $492,492, spent $348,855.

Recent large donations: $2,000.

Reclaim Idaho’s K-12 funding initiative qualified for the November ballot last month.

Kevin Richert

Kevin Richert

Senior reporter and blogger Kevin Richert specializes in education politics and education policy. He has more than 30 years of experience in Idaho journalism. He is a frequent guest on "Idaho Reports" on Idaho Public Television and "Idaho Matters" on Boise State Public Radio. Follow Kevin on Twitter: @KevinRichert. He can be reached at [email protected]

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