(Updated to clarify that Pyle led Republican field in fundraising)
After jumping into the 2nd District congressional race in May, Republican state Sen. Dennis Pyle led all GOP candidates in fundraising in the last quarter, new campaign finance records show
Pyle, the four-term senator from Hiawatha, reported taking in $134,041 during the quarter ending June 30.
“Everybody told me it was too late late, but it’s not,” Pyle said of entering the race in May. “We feel like we’re in pretty good position to win this thing.”
Pyle said he had less money when he ran for Congress in 2010 and was vastly outspent. He still finished with 43 percent. “We feel like we’re in a good position.”
Republican state Sen. Caryn Tyson reported raising $68,867 during the quarter followed by state Rep. Kevin Jones with $39,005, state Sen. Steve Fitzgerald with $30,148, outdoor adventurist and Army veteran Steve Watkins with $26,956 and former House Speaker Doug Mays with $7,203.
Basehor City Councilman Vernon Fields’ fundraising has slowed to a trickle. He reported raising just $105 in the last quarter and has no money on hand.
Meanwhile, Democrat Paul Davis raised $428,584 for the quarter, bringing his total to a little more than $1.5 million for the election cycle. He received $35,000 from a joint fundraising committee made up of 15 Democratic candidates running for Congress.
He has about $900,000 in the bank ready to spend for the approaching general election.
On the Republican side, Tyson said her campaign has more donations from individuals than any candidate in the race.
“Our support is increasing daily throughout the district,” she said in a statement.
Meanwhile, the Fitzgerald campaign issued a statement saying it has raised “what we needed in order for us to execute our planned push leading up to the primary.
“Sen. Fitzgerald has an energized base and the volunteers, staff and resources to get the job done,” the campaign said.
While Pyle raised more last quarter, he’s still matched up against candidates who have lent hundreds of thousands of dollars to their campaigns. Together, five candidates in the Republican primary have put about $1 million in loans into their campaign.
Watkins has lent his campaign about $475,000 and had $376,175 on hand at the end of the reporting period. Fitzgerald put $300,000 in loans into his campaign. He had $290,000 on hand as of June 30.
Tyson ended the quarter with about $400,000 on hand after lending her campaign about $205,000. And Mays lent his campaign $101,000 and had $22,316 in the bank.
Pyle, who lent his campaign no money, reported having $120,000 on hand as of June 30.
