The 2018 race for Governor may be some 16 months away, but already the declared candidates are hard at work at the most important facet of campaigning – fundraising. Each of the candidates who have announced their totals for the first fundraising period reported impressive numbers, making this race look like one that will stay crowded and heated all the way into the next year.
With today as the deadline for the first reporting period, the candidates in the race, (so far) had to reveal where they stand financially, an important number as many advocacy groups and big money donors watch carefully to determine which horse to get behind.
Lt. Governor Casey Cagle, thought by many to be the frontrunner in the race, leads the way. The Gainesville Republican reported that his campaign raised $2.7 million over its first two months, a record breaking haul for a non-incumbent running for Governor in Georgia. Prominent state Senators including Brandon Beach, Renee Unterman, and Steve Gooch are among those who made large donations to Cagle’s campaign.
Following behind him was Secretary of State Brian Kemp, who reported a total of $1.7 million, which would have broken that same record if not for Cagle. State Senator Hunter Hill posted an impressive sum of his own, with his $1.15 million raised already proving that he’s in the race to stay. State Sen. Michael Williams, the final Republican in the race, reported $1,050,000 for the cycle, but $1 million of that was a personal loan from the candidate himself.
On the Democratic side former House Minority Leader Stacey Abrams announced her campaign has raised over $540,000 so far. Half of her donors though came from out of state, a number to keep an eye on after Jon Ossoff ran into damaging criticism for receiving so much out of state money in his losing bid to win the 6th congressional district. The other Democrat in the race, state Representative Stacey Evans, raised an impressive $420,000 of her own in her short time since announcing her candidacy.
Meanwhile in the race to replace Cagle, state Senate pro tem David Shafer leads the pack in fundraising with almost $1 million in the first reporting period. State Sen. Rick Jeffares has brought in nearly $350,000, while state Rep. Geoff Duncan reported $330,000. No Democrats have yet declared for Lt. Governor.
