Methodist pastor Adam Hamilton’s campaign announced it has raised about $3.7 million since joining the race for the U.S. Senate, giving him a significant edge over a Democratic field whose fundraising has been anemic by comparison.
His federal campaign finance report is not due until July 15 when the public will get a better picture of the health of his political campaign when it will be known how much money he has on hand.
The campaign compares Hamilton’s fundraising so far to what former state Sen. Barbara Bollier raised in her first quarter after launching her campaign for the U.S. Senate in 2019. He’s raised $3.6 million to her $1.1 million.
However at this same point during the 2020 U.S. Senate race, Bollier had about $4.4 million in cash on hand and she didn’t have to finish out a primary with 10 other candidates, some who may have still have outside support.
Because she had a much earlier start than Hamilton, Bollier also has had raised about $7.2 million at this point in time.
Hamilton appears to have a significant fundraising advantage over the rest of the Democratic field seeking to challenge Republican U.S. Senator Roger Marshall.
He’s the only one who’s on television so far, according to national ad tracking firm, AdImpact.
He’s spent or booked about $478,000 on general broadcast, cable television, and satellite, according to the national ad tracking service, AdImpact. He’s spent about another $351,000 on digital advertising.
So far, Hamilton is spending about $192,900 in Kansas City, $140,700 in the Wichita/Hutchinson market, $111,200 in Topeka and about $33,300 in Pittsburg.
Those numbers are fluid and can change rapidly in an evolving campaign.
Whether the other Democratic candidates can get on TV is uncertain, and perhaps doubtful, based on their first quarter fundraising numbers. Their latest reports are due next week.
Patrick Schmidt, who was just elected to the state Senate in 2024, reported raising $177,173 in the quarter ending March 31. He had about $130,000 in cash on hand, compared to the almost $500,000 Hamilton has booked or spent on TV.
Running behind Schmidt in first quarter fundraising was Noach Taylor of Kechi, who reported taking in $72,435. He had about $68,600 in cash on hand at the end of the first quarter.
Former congressional candidate Christy Davis raised $56,589 during the quarter and had $59,271 in cash on hand. She’s raised $80,478 for the cycle.
In other fundraising, Kansas City developer Erik Murray reported raising $55,219 with $45,586 in the bank at the end of the first quarter. He had raised about $179,800 for the cycle through March.
Retired business executive Sandy Spidel Neumann reported $19,849 during the first quarter and had $38,109 at the end of the quarter.
She’s raised about $187,400 for the cycle, including a $100,000 loan.
Former federal prosecutor Jason Hart reported bringing in $10,741 during the first quarter and had about $5,400 in cash on hand at the end of the reporting period.
Anne Parelkar trailed every Democrat, raising $2,916 during the reporting period.
She had raised about $20,000 for the cycle, including a $5,500 loan.
