In final weeks before key SC Senate elections, here’s whose campaigns had the most cash
With less than a week until final ballots are cast in the Nov. 5 election, here’s a look at who went into the final weeks with the cash advantage in key state Senate races.
Cash has flowed into some of the most competitive races in the state, even though only a handful can be considered a toss-up Tuesday.
Currently, Republicans hold 30 seats in the state Senate. Democrats hold 15, and there is one independent who votes with Democrats. The GOP is favored to hold control of the state’s upper chamber as Democrats are expected to play defense to hold on to their seats and keep Republicans from increasing their majority.
In Senate District 39, Republican Tom Fernandez appeared to have the cash advantage over incumbent Democrat Vernon Stephens. Fernandez brought in $144,000 into his campaign. But he took out a loan for $100,000 for the race, according to state ethics commission reports.
In the third quarter, Fernandez had $69,000 worth of expenses, which included nearly $32,000 on mail, $14,000 on digital advertising and nearly $7,000 on text messages.
Stephens has raised $75,000 during the cycle, and only has $5,000 in debt.
They both entered the last three weeks of the race with $9,900 cash on hand.
The district covers parts of Berkeley, Dorchester and Orangeburg counties.
Senate District 17
State Senate District 17 is expected to be a close race as Democratic incumbent Mike Fanning, a former school teacher who voted against the Senate redistricting plan, which made the district with a Democratic advantage of 53-46, according to Dave’s Redistricting Analysis. But rural areas have become more and more Republican, and the district includes parts of Chester, Fairfield, Lancaster and York counties.
Fanning entered the final three weeks with a nearly $13,000 cash on hand advantage over Republican nominee Everett Stubbs.
Fanning has raised $91,000 for his campaign. Stubbs had raised $67,000 as of Oct. 16.
Senate District 26
State Rep. Russell Ott, D-Calhoun, entered the final three weeks with the cash advantage over Republican Jason Guerry in Senate District 26, which includes parts of Calhoun, Lexington and Richland counties.
Ott had nearly $78,000 cash on hand to Guerry’s $9,900.
Ott has raised $102,000 for his state Senate campaign during the third quarter.
Guerry has only brought in $48,000 to his campaign during the third quarter, which includes $36,000 in loans after the primary.
They are hoping to succeed state Sen. Nikki Setlzer, D-Lexington, who is not running for reelection.
Senate District 36
State Sen. Kevin Johnson, D-Clarendon, has an overwhelming cash on hand lead over his Republican challenger Jeff Zell in Senate District 36, which includes parts of Calhoun, Clarendon, Orangeburg and Sumter counties.
Johnson entered the final three weeks with $106,000 in the bank. Zell had less than $1,600.
Johnson raised more than $41,000 during the third quarter. Zell raised about $23,600.
Senate District 35
In state Senate District 35, where Democrat Thomas McElveen is not running for reelection, former Camden Mayor Jeffrey Graham holds the cash advantage.
Graham, a Democrat, had $73,000 cash on hand three weeks before the election after raising $92,500 in the third quarter.
Republican nominee Mike Jones, only had $4,700 in the bank as of Oct. 16. He raised only $22,000 during the third quarter.
The district includes parts of Kershaw, Lee, Richland and Sumter counties.
Senate District 10
In Senate District 10, which is expected to send a Republican back the state’s upper chamber, incumbent Republican Billy Garrett had $27,000 cash on hand as of Oct. 16. Dave Redistricting rates the district as a 67%-32% advantage for the GOP.
His Democratic challenger, Francie Kleckley reported $67,000 cash on hand.
Kleckley raised $58,800 in the third quarter of the year. Garrett had only raised $11,900 during the third quarter. Garrett however in June advanced to the general election out of a four-person Republican primary field. Garrett, however, needed to win a runoff election to secure the nomination. For the primary, Garrett raised $215,000 and ended the second quarter with $49,000 still in the bank.
The district includes parts of Greenwood, Lexington and Saluda counties.
