(Updated to reflect comment from Colyer spokesman; Hartman; corrects amount of loan to Selzer campaign.)
Wichita oilman and running mate Wink Hartman bankrolled most of Kris Kobach’s fundraising this year in the Kansas governor’s race, loaning the campaign about $1.5 million, campaign finance reports reveal.
The GOP candidate for lieutenant governor on the Kobach ticket gave the campaign about $1.5 million – listed as loans on the report – to bring Kobach’s total this year to $1.7 million and more than $2 million for the entire campaign.
Kobach reported having about $59,000 on hand at the end of the reporting period on July 26.
At $2 million, Kobach has raised more than Republican Gov. Jeff Colyer ($1.5 million), Greg Orman ($1.3 million), Republican Insurance Commissioner Ken Selzer ($787,000), Democrat Laura Kelly ($728,000), former Republican state Sen. Jim Barnett ($602,000), former Democratic state Rep. Josh Svaty ($402,000) and former Wichita Mayor Carl Brewer ($125,000).
Colyer’s spokesman, Kendall Marr, poked fun at Kobach for relying so heavily on his running mate for financing. He pointed out that the governor has raised most of his money from supporters not his own wallet.
“It is clear that this race is really down to two,” Marr said. “The Republican primary is now between Gov. Jeff Colyer – the clear leader in support – and Wink Hartman’s checkbook.”
Hartman said he understood how important it was to make an investment in a cause.
“As a businessman, I know how important it is to invest in great leadership, and as a conservative, I know how critical investment is to the cause,” Hartman said in a statement.
“Kris Kobach is a consistent conservative and the right leader for Kansas. Like President Trump, the Kobach-Hartman team doesn’t answer to special interests. We answer to the people of Kansas.”
Selzer’s reports showed he raised $73,609 this year to supplement the $713,000 he raised last year, including $285,000 in campaign loans. He still had $353,000 on hand at the end of the reporting period.
Orman plowed $650,000 into his campaign for governor, boosting his fundraising totals to more than $1.3 million for the approaching fall election.
Campaign finance reports showed that the Johnson County businessman raised $878,874 from Jan. 1 through July 26, including $650,000 of his own money. Orman reported having about $459,000 on hand on July 26.
“As a candidate for governor, I’ve pledged not to take a dime from PACs or lobbyists and the special interests that control both parties and their candidates,” Orman said in a statement.
“I’ve kept that pledge, and my personal contributions to this campaign show my commitment to always putting this state and its people first.”
Kelly, the four-term state senator from Topeka, led the Democratic field in fundraising. She’s amassed $730,000 after raising $572,000 this year.
“I’m honored to have the support of such a broad and diverse group of Kansans. From Lakin to Hays to Dodge City to Pittsburg to Olathe, working men and women are ready for a change,” Kelly said in statement.
“Kansas Democrats are energized and excited to participate in the first primary we’ve had in a very long time,” she said.
Svaty, one of Kelly’s primary Democratic rivals, raised $213,000 during the period. He reported having just $35,000 on hand as of July 26. He’s raised about $405,000 for the campaign.
The other major Democratic candidate, former Wichita Mayor Carl Brewer, reported raising $80,000 this year to bring his total for the campaign to about $125,000.
A spokesman for the Svaty campaign played down Kelly’s fundraising.
“We have known all along that we would not raise as much as the Kelly/Rogers campaign,” Mike Swenson said. “They are both sitting state senators in the middle of their term and regardless of the outcome of the race for governor, they will both be sitting in the capitol come January.
“Special interests and outstate money will always make the safe bet and cover themselves for the next legislative session, when there are politicians sitting in safe seats in the Senate,” Swenson said.
The amount of money that Kelly has raised so far this year is less than what
Former House Minority Leader Paul Davis raised at a similar point in the 2014 governor’s race although he had no competition for the nomination.
Davis reported raising $1.1 million for basically the first seven months of 2014 when he was gearing up to face then-Gov. Sam Brownback, who was running for-election. Davis ended the July reporting period with $1.3 million on hand.
