Democrats enjoy fundraising advantage in key Kansas congressional races, reports show
Democratic candidates hold the fundraising advantage in the three most competitive federal races in Kansas.
Rep. Sharice Davids, the only Democrat in the Kansas delegation, has nearly $2.4 million cash on hand, more than quadruple the amount collected by any of her five Republican challengers in the 3rd Congressional District.
The freshman congresswoman raised roughly $875,000 and spent $255,000 from April through June, according to a campaign finance report filed with the Federal Election Commission this week.
The reports, covering April 1 through June 30, show the financial strength of each campaign roughly a month before the August 4 primary.
Former Kansas Republican chair Amanda Adkins led Davids’ challengers, taking in roughly $205,000 for the quarter. She has nearly $538,000 cash on hand after spending $157,000 during the period. The cash total is slightly inflated because of about $66,000 in unpaid vendor bills.
Sara Hart Weir, a disability rights advocate, raised about $168,000 and spent nearly $111,000 during the quarter. She has about $462,000 in cash.
Former Roeland Park Mayor Adrienne Vallejo Foster took in about $163,000 for the quarter and had less than $47,000 in cash. She spent $156,000 during the three months.
Mike Beehler, a former Burns & McDonnell executive, lags the field in fundraising. His campaign collected more than $34,000 for the period and spent about $17,000. He had less than $22,000 cash on hand.
A final Republican, former State Rep. Tom Love, has not filed a report.
Topeka mayor outraises Watkins
In the adjacent Kansas 2nd Congressional District, Democrat Michelle Da La Isla, the first Latina mayor of Topeka, led fundraising for the second quarter in a row, a major feat for a Democrat in the GOP-held district.
De La Isla benefited from fundraising events with former Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius and former presidential candidates Pete Buttigieg and Amy Klobuchar.
She raised more than $356,000 for the period and spent about $101,000. She has nearly $523,000 in cash, which puts her ahead of incumbent Republican Rep. Steve Watkins.
Watkins, who was charged with three felonies in Shawnee County this week, raised roughly $122,000 for the quarter, a small amount for a congressional incumbent in a competitive race.
He has more than $368,000 cash on hand after spending about $192,000. But his campaign committee still has $250,000 in debt from a personal loan he made during the 2018 race.
The district had one of the most competitive races in the country in 2018. Watkins defeated a well-funded Democrat by less than 1 percentage point after a visit from President Donald Trump and millions in outside spending from GOP-aligned groups.
De La Isla’s fundraising prowess and Watkins’ legal woes should be a concern for Republicans, said Kansas Treasurer Jake LaTurner, Watkins’ primary challenger.
“Listen Michelle De La Isla is going to be a formidable candidate. You heard it here first. And that is why Steve Watkins cannot be the nominee,” LaTurner said.
LaTurner has the most cash with about $525,000, but most of it was raised during his short-lived campaign for U.S. Senate. He has struggled to raise money in recent quarters and brought in less than $82,000 from April through June. LaTurner spent about $129,000 during the period.
Another Republican, former Kansas Secretary of Administration Dennis Taylor, joined the race last month and raised about $57,000. He has roughly $31,000 after spending the rest.
Race for Senate
In the open seat race for U.S. Senate, Democrat Barbara Bollier continued her fundraising dominance over the Republican field in a state that has not elected a Democrat to the Senate since 1932.
Bollier raised $3.7 million, a record for a candidate of either party in Kansas, and has nearly $4.4 million in cash. The state lawmaker and retired physician spent about $173,000 from April through June.
The Republican field didn’t come close Bollier’s total even when their fundraising balances for the quarter are combined.
Republican Rep. Roger Marshall raised about $479,000, the most of any Republican candidate. The western Kansas congressman has less than $1.1 million cash after spending nearly $1.4 million from April through June.
Businessman Bob Hamilton’s campaign is largely self-financed. The Republican loaned his campaign $1.5 million during the quarter— on top of an earlier $2 million.
Hamilton raised $38,000 from other donors.
His campaign has spent more than $2 million, most of it going toward TV advertising. He has $1.6 million cash on hand.
Former Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach, the party’s 2018 nominee for governor, raised about $233,000 for the quarter. He has roughly $145,000 in cash after spending about $405,000.
Former Johnson County Commissioner Dave Lindstrom raised about $124,000. He has roughly $271,000 after spending nearly $120,000 during the period.
The Star’s Matt Kelly contributed to this report.
This story was originally published July 16, 2020 at 10:51 AM with the headline "Democrats enjoy fundraising advantage in key Kansas congressional races, reports show."
