Individual donations continue to dominate fundraising in the race for John McCain’s Senate seat, and outside groups are pouring millions into advertising.
Seeking his sixth term in the Senate, McCain raised $571,228 between the beginning of July and Aug. 10, according to Federal Election Commission records. His Republican rival, former state Sen. Kelly Ward, raised less than half of that — $254,210.
A third GOP rival, Alexander Meluskey, recently dropped out of the race after conceding he could not defeat McCain.
Ward and McCain have raised millions in the run-up to this week’s primary, but outside groups including Kellipac and Courageous Conservatives PAC supporting Ward have spent $845,363. Other groups, like the Courageous Conservatives PAC opposing McCain, have spent an additional $575,519 to run negative ads.
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Arizona Grassroots Action PAC and the USA Business Freedom PAC are running ads supporting McCain, spending $137,232, according to campaign finance data.
McCain had slightly more than $5 million in his campaign war chest as of mid-August, while Ward had $137,303 cash on hand.
Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick, a Democrat, has raised slightly more than $1 million in donations, primarily from individuals. Her campaign war chest had nearly $2.3 million at the end of reporting period.
CD1 GOP race competitive
Republican candidates vying for the open seat in Congressional District 1 seat have again raised nearly $285,650 in the six-week primary period.
Campaign in the massive district, which runs from Northern and Eastern Arizona to northern Pima County, has seen seven candidates spend over $1 million in the weeks leading up to the primary.
Two candidates, former state legislator Carlyle Begay and Arizona House Speaker David Gowan, have since dropped out — making for a five-person race.
Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu led the latest filing period by Republicans with $109,030 in contributions and had $116,499 in his campaign coffers.
Retired Air Force Lt. Col. Wendy Rogers raised $62,458 in contributions; rancher Gary Kiehne raised $31,712; former Arizona Secretary of State Ken Bennett raised $27,710; and businessman Shawn Redd raised $14,500 with a loan to his campaign.
Before dropping out, Gowan raised $40,180.
Outside groups have spent $228,880 in race, with most of the funds supporting Rogers.
The Defend Rural Arizona PAC spent $169,232 on radio ads and mailers, according to campaign finance reports.
Former state Rep. Tom O’Halleran, a Democrat, raised $63,536 in the last fundraising period, but had $471,821 in his campaign coffers.
Democrats in CD2 overshadowed
Republican Congresswoman Martha McSally continues to bring in more campaign donations than her two would-be Democratic rivals combined, raising $467,862 in the last six weeks.
McSally, who is not being challenged in the Republican primary, is also outspending both of the Democrats combined and still has more than $2 million in the bank, filings with the Federal Election Commission show.
The amount is still relatively small, since one estimate suggests a total of $20 million was spent in Congressional District 2 during the last election cycle two years ago.
On the Democratic side, physician Matt Heinz raised $94,473 between the beginning of July and mid-August, while former state Rep. Victoria Steele raised $32,227 during the period.
Grijalva unopposed
With no formal challengers, Rep. Raúl Grijalva’s campaign has raised $41,414 in his bid for another term in Congress.
He had $138,579 still in his campaign war chest, according to campaign finance reports.
Contact reporter Joe Ferguson at jferguson@tucson.com or 573-4197. On Twitter: @JoeFerguson
Joe Ferguson
Reporter
