While Democrats led the way in fundraising in the latest quarter, federal campaign finance reports filed Monday show, one candidate considerably outraised the rest.
NM Political Report first reported that Xochitl Torres Small, a Democrat seeking the 2nd Congressional District seat, raised over $1.9 million yesterday. Her fundraising total was $650,000 more than all three candidates for U.S. Senate combined raised in that same time period.
Torres Small spent over $1.3 million and finished with $1.1 million cash on hand for the final few weeks of the race.
Her opponent, Republican State Rep. Yvette Herrell, raised $564,000 and spent $245,000, leaving her with $419,000 cash on hand for the final stretch.
U.S. Senate race
Incumbent U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich, a Democrat, lapped the field in fundraising, raising $911,000 and spending $2.5 million between July 1 and Sept. 30—leaving him with $2.4 million cash on hand.
The amount he raised was more than both his opponents combined, likely reflecting why many political analysts view the race as a safe Democratic hold. This is Heinrich’s first reelection campaign after winning the seat in 2012.
Republican Mick Rich raised $133,000 in the period and spent $173,000. He has $158,000 cash on hand.
Former Gov. Gary Johnson, a Libertarian, raised $235,000 and spent $171,000, leaving him with $64,000 cash on hand. It was the first campaign finance report for Johnson, who entered the race in August.
This was the first time Senate candidates were required to file campaign finance reports electronically. Previously, they filed hard copies of campaign finance data and it would take days for the data to be available to the public.
1st Congressional District
In the Albuquerque-area 1st Congressional District, the Democrat holds a large lead in campaign cash as well.
Deb Haaland, a former Democratic Party of New Mexico chair, raised $630,000 and spent $455,000, leaving her with $417,000 in campaign cash for the stretch run.
Her Republican opponent, former State Rep. Janice Arnold-Jones, raised $138,000 and $137,000, leaving her with just $44,000 in the bank.
Libertarian Lloyd Princeton raised $6,000 and spent $5,000, leaving him with less than $800 in the bank.
U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Luján raised nearly $300,000. The Democrat ha $739,000 cash-on-hand and is expected to win reelection to his sixth term.
The reports for neither of his opponents, Republican Jerald McFall and Libertarian Christopher Manning, were available on the Federal Election Commission website.
Update: Added information from Ben Ray Luján.
