CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Senator Joe Manchin’s campaign announced that he has raised $1.4 million in contributions in the most recent fundraising quarter.
The ability to raise campaign funds is likely to be a major component of the 2018 race for U.S. Senate.
The last time Manchin ran for Senate, in 2012, his campaign raised $4.7 million and spend $3.7 million.
This year’s Senate race is shaping up to be competitive. Manchin has one declared Democratic opponent, environmental activist Paula Swearingen, and two more who have filed, Edwin Vanover of Bluefield and Chase Henderson of Huntington.
On the Republican side, current state Attorney General Patrick Morrisey declared his candidacy this week. He joins Congressman Evan Jenkins, who has gotten his own jump on fundraising with $367,726 in contributions through the first fundraising quarter and $1.035 million overall cash on hand.
Republicans Jack Newbrough of Weirton, Scott Ernest of Union and Bo Copley of Lenore also have declared their candidacies.
Former coal CEO Don Blankenship, who spent a year jailed on a misdemeanor conspiracy conviction, also is considering running.
Manchin’s campaign already has nearly $3.5 million cash on hand. The next quarterly filings with the Federal Election Commission is July 15.
Manchin had two big recent fundraising events. One was a gathering of supporters June 1 at the University of Charleston, and the other was a “Friendraiser” at the Charleston Marriott on June 30.
“West Virginians are tired of partisan negativity getting in the way of good government,” Manchin stated in a release from his campaign.
“I’m running on a record of consensus-building on behalf of the people of the Mountain State — hard-working West Virginians who deserve elected leaders who always put their true interests ahead of politics.”