Statewide Republicans outraise, outspend opponents in latest campaign finance filings • Indiana Capital Chronicle #NewsUnitedStates

In the third quarter of 2024, Indiana’s Republican statewide candidates outraised their Democratic opponents in the latest campaign finance reports filed with the Indiana Secretary of State’s office. 

However, both Democrats in the governor’s and attorney general’s races reported more individual donations than Republican contenders between July 1 and Sept. 30 of this year. 

Republican gubernatorial nominee Mike Braun survived a bitterly competitive — and expensive — six-way primary and continues to rake in large contributions, bringing in nearly $3.2 million. His haul outpaced the amount Democrat nominee Jennifer McCormick brought in during the same reporting period, which totaled nearly $1.2 million. 

That amount comes in on top of the $1.7 million Braun already had in July. He spent nearly $3.6 million and ended with roughly $1.3 million cash on hand. 

In terms of individual donations, Braun reported 758, some of which came from repeat donors, for a total of $1.2 million. Comparatively, McCormick reported 3,977 such donations, again with some repeat donors. She raised $767,403 from individuals.

The biggest subcategory of donations for Braun came from political action committees, or PACs. Such groups spanned the gamut, including major health care players like insurer Cigna, nursing homes, groups representing family physicians and lobbying organizations. Combined contributions totaled $1.4 million. 

The sitting U.S. senator has targeted high health care costs as a major issue for his campaign, continuing his work on the congressional level.

Major utility companies also contributed outside of PACs, including Duke Energy and AES Indiana, as well as the state’s hospital lobbying organization and insurers Molina Healthcare, Elevance Health and Delta Dental. The total sum from outside organizations and corporate donations was $576,427.

In contrast, McCormick’s fundraising relied more heavily on educators, unions and other Democrats.

A former teacher and the last superintendent of public instruction, McCormick scored several donations from the state’s teacher unions, including $213,750 from the Indiana State Teachers Association and another $5,000 from the American Federation of Teachers’ state chapter. 

Other unions and PACs chipped in an additional $99,450, for a total of $318,200.

Democratic politicians and other organizations added $65,483, including $40,000 from running mate Terry Goodin, a former state representative. Corporate donations to the Democrat totaled $4,000.

McCormick started the reporting period with just over $700,000 and spent nearly $1.6 million, leaving her with just under $500,000 cash on hand.

The above campaign finance reports don’t include the latest donations from national groups like the Republican Governors Association and the Democratic Governors Association. Both put more dollars into the race following polling that put McCormick “within striking distance” of Braun.

Indiana’s Libertarian candidate for governor, Donald Rainwater, started the period with $77,000 and raised nearly $9,000. He reportedly spent nearly $70,000 and ended with just under $17,000.

He had roughly 156 individual donations, with amounts ranging from $10 to $400. He had just one PAC contribution from Georgia-based Proud Libertarian for just under $390. 

The race for Attorney General

In the fundraising race for the Office of Attorney General, incumbent Todd Rokita started ahead and stayed well ahead of his Democrat challenger in campaign finance reports. 

The longtime politician and Republican insider had more than $1.3 million at the beginning of the fundraising period, tacking on another $1 million during the reporting period and spending just over $336,000. He ended with more than $2 million cash on hand.

Several well-known household names donated to Rokita’s reelection campaign, including Tyson Foods, 1-800 Contacts, Inc. and Old National Bank. Corporations and outside groups — including car dealerships, coal lobbying groups and school choice proponents — pitched in more than $234,000. 

In attorney general race, candidates’ visions diverge

PACs sent another $291,000 Rokita’s way, including the Republican Attorneys General Association, which gave him $250,000. 

However, Wells attracted more individual donors — especially small-dollar donors — than Rokita.

The Republican reported 261 individual donations, some of whom donated more than once, for a combined $524,520.

Wells logged 1,730 individual donations, some of which came from repeat donors and other Democratic politicians, for a total of nearly $339,000.

A number of Wells’ contributions from PACs came from trade unions alongside county-level Democratic organizations, for a total of just under $112,000. A handful of contributions from corporations — all of which appeared to be law firms — amounted to $4,750. 

In all, the Democrat raised over $455,000 in the third fundraising quarter, though it doesn’t appear that the Democratic Attorneys General Association donated to her campaign. 

She started the period with a little less than $98,000 and, after spending roughly $174,000, ended with nearly $540,000 to spend in the final push before Election Day on Nov. 5.