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CHARLESTON -- Gov. Jim Justice has a clear money advantage in cash-on-hand for his Republican U.S. Senate race, but former Wheeling mayor Glenn Elliott managed to come close to Justice's campaign donations for the most recent reporting period.
Meanwhile, the Republican candidates for West Virginia two congressional districts are far ahead of their Democratic opponents in campaign fundraising.
Monday was the due date for July quarterly campaign finance reports to the Federal Election Commission. This report covers a period between April 25 - covering 20 days before the May 14 primary in West Virginia – and June 30.
Justice - who defeated several GOP candidates in the May primary to secure the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate, including U.S. Rep. Alex Mooney, R-W.Va., - raised $180,479 for the reporting period, bringing his election cycle-to-date fundraising to more than $2.7 million.
"Governor Justice is the most popular elected statewide official in West Virginia, and he continues to show strong fundraising numbers because West Virginians know his conservative record of enacting the biggest tax cut in state history, creating jobs, growing the economy, protecting life, and standing strong for the Second Amendment," said Roman Stauffer, campaign manager for Jim Justice for U.S. Senate. "He will continue to lead in fundraising, polling, and approval numbers because Republican, Democrat, and Independent voters strongly support him."
Justice has the edge in cash-on-hand with $768,232 heading into the next reporting period. Some of that came from a $278,670 transfer from the Justice for WV Senate Republican Nominee Fund, which includes donations from the joint fundraising committee of U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, who is seeking to lead the Senate GOP caucus in 2025.
Another $104,000 came from the Justice Victory Fund joint fundraising committee. Between both the Jim Justice for U.S. Senate Committee and the Justice for WV Senate Republican Nominee Fund, Justice has $799,423 in cash-on-hand.
Justice, joined by his English bulldog Babydog, addressed attendees of the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee Tuesday night. Former Republican President Donald Trump, the GOP nominee for president in November, endorsed Justice twice during the U.S. Senate primary. The winner of the November U.S. Senate contest will succeed U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin who announced last year he would not seek re-election. Manchin switched parties from Democrat to independent last month.
Elliott – who won the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate in May in a three-person race – raised $125,654 for the reporting period, bringing his election cycle-to-date donations to $251,062, leaving him with $69,134 in cash-on-hand.
Elliott wrapped up his second term as mayor of Wheeling at the end of June. He is now on a tour of all 55 counties in West Virginia, spending this week traveling through the Eastern Panhandle and the Potomac Highlands. Next week, Elliott will be in North Central West Virginia, including a town hall in Clarksburg on Wednesday, July 24.
"Some in the media have dismissed our campaign. This race will be more competitive than people think," Elliott said by phone Tuesday. "It will come down to who is best prepared to represent West Virginia in Washington, D.C. Governor Justice is not prepared to put in the time necessary. Some donors have sat on the sidelines, but I would urge them to look at our numbers and look at our campaign. This is a winnable race...I have the energy and vigor to represent West Virginia."
In the 2nd Congressional District, Republican State Treasurer Riley Moore has the clear money advantage over retired U.S. Navy Cmdr. Steven Wendelin of Hardy County. Moore raised $133,141 for the reporting period and more than $1 million election cycle-to-date, leaving him with $240,607 in cash-on-hand. He also has $80,427 in outstanding debts. Wendelin raised $6,590 for the period and $19,011 election cycle-to-date, leaving him with $4,442 in cash-on-hand.
In the 1st Congressional District, U.S. Rep. Carol Miller, R-W.Va., raised $323,673 for the reporting period and more than $1.2 million election cycle-to-date, leaving her with $184,530 in cash-on-hand due in part to more than $417,000 on loans to her campaign. Democratic candidate Chris Bob Reed won the primary in May but has filed no FEC reports to date.
Wes Holden, an independent candidate for the 1st Congressional District from Charleston, raised $2,597 for the period and $18,474 election cycle-to-date. After spending $3,605 during the period, Holden's campaign is in the hole by $1,045. Holden also loaned his campaign $1,400.