Feast or famine: Some legislative campaigns have clear fundraising edge

Shared content from Carolina Public Press

by Michael Gebelein 

Not all campaigns for the General Assembly are created equal, at least in the eyes of deep-pocketed donors.

Campaign finance reports filed in July show some Western North Carolina legislative contests bringing in substantial sums, while others have attracted relatively little attention. The fundraising in some cases has been lopsided in favor of a certain candidate – including some who have no opposition. In other cases, the quest for dollars appears more even.

Carolina Public Press has analyzed the most recent wave of campaign reports, covering the period from March through June, looking at both donations and expenditures.
See the full text of the story.

Quick look into the data 

Campaigns and cash

Following is a breakdown of the reported finances for each General Assembly candidate in Western North Carolina, based on their July filings. The next filings will be due just before Election Day in November.

N.C. HOUSE

District 85 (Avery, McDowell, Mitchell)

• Josh Dobson, R (incumbent) – Receipts: $12,650. Expenditures: $16,800.

District 86 (Burke)

• Hugh Blackwell, R (incumbent) – Receipts: $77,710.61. Expenditures: $9,654.68.
• Tim Barnsback, D – Receipts: $10,986.93. Expenditures: $12,930.88.

District 93 (Ashe, Watauga)

• Jonathan Jordan, R (incumbent) – Receipts: $11,724.42. Expenditures: $45,795.22.
• Sue Counts, D – Receipts: $42,313.18. Expenditures: $15,330.20.

District 112 (Burke, Rutherford)

• Ben Edwards, U – Receipts: $1,590. Expenditures: $664.77
• David Rogers, R – Receipts: 0. Expenditures: 0.

District 113 (Henderson, Polk, Transylvania)

• Maureen Copelof, D – Receipts: $23,293. Expenditures: $3,976.48.
• Cody Henson, R – Receipts: $8,298. Expenditures: $4,490.31.

District 114 (Buncombe)

• Susan Fisher, D (incumbent) – Receipts: $31,895. Expenditures: $15,777.84.

District 115 (Buncombe)

• John Ager, D (incumbent) – Receipts: $90,481.12. Expenditures: $20,259.33.
• Frank Moretz, R – Receipts: $11,063.09. Expenditures: $39,492.11.

District 116 (Buncombe)

• Brian Turner, D (incumbent) – Receipts: $76,639.89. Expenditures: $16,973.28.
• Kay Olsen – N/A. Dropped out of race.

District 117 (Henderson)

• Chuck McGrady, R (incumbent) – Receipts: $9,070.41. Expenditures: $4,498.58.

District 118 (Haywood, Madison, Yancey)

• Michele Presnell, R (incumbent) – Receipts: $10,800. Expenditures: $1,622.27.
• Rhonda Schandevel, D – Receipts: $58,457.04. Expenditures: $34,060.68.

District 119 (Haywood, Jackson, Swain)

• Joe Sam Queen, D (incumbent) – Receipts: $1,700. Expenditures: $197.41.
• Mike Clampitt, R – Receipts: $970. Expenditures: $399.84.

District 120 (Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Macon)

• Kevin Corbin, R – Receipts: $3,557.21. Expenditures: $6,980.17.
• Randy Hogsed, D – Receipts: 0. Expenditures: 0.

N.C. SENATE

District 45 (Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Caldwell, Watauga)

• Deanna Ballard, R (incumbent) – Receipts: $19,325. Expenditures: $15,869.73.
• Art Sherwood, D – Receipts: $29,995.99. Expenditures: $7,014.39.

District 46 (Burke, Cleveland)

• Warren Daniel, R (incumbent) – Receipts: $4,300. Expenditures: $3,227.37.
• Anne Fischer, D – Receipts: $335. Expenditures: N/A

District 47 (Madison, McDowell, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, Yancey)

• Ralph Hise, R (incumbent) – Receipts: $26,968.88. Expenditures: $16,160.46.
• Mary Jane Boyd, D – Receipts: $1,478.44. Expenditures: $2,094.68.

District 48 (Buncombe, Henderson, Transylvania)

• Chuck Edwards, R (incumbent) – Receipts: $19,424.41. Expenditures: $31,221.33.
• Norman Bossert, D – Receipts: $9,431. Expenditures: $4,680.23.

District 49 (Buncombe)

• Terry Van Duyn, D (incumbent) – Receipts: $87,399. Expenditures: $51,032.19.
• William Meredith, L – Receipts: 0. Expenditures: 0.

District 50 (Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Haywood, Jackson, Macon, Swain)

• Jim Davis, R (incumbent) – Receipts: $7,345. Expenditures: $14,998.06.
• Jane Hipps, D – Receipts: $79,471.31. Expenditures: $19,872.49.