6:00: Morning News

Spending ramps up in W.Va. governor and attorney general races

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Spending in the West Virginia governor’s race now exceeds $7.5 million, according to the latest campaign finance reports released through the Secretary of State’s office.

Republican Bill Cole, the state Senate President, has spent $2,557,341. Democrat Jim Justice, owner of The Greenbrier resort, has spent $4,361,913. The total spending includes what was spent in the primaries.

New figures were released Friday by the Secretary of State’s office.

Both gubernatorial candidates have actually spent more than they’ve raised.

Justice stands out in that regard. He has raised $1,469,733. He has loaned his campaign $3,274,403, according to the reports on file with the Secretary of State.

Cole has loaned his campaign $500,000, according to his reports.

Charlotte Pritt, the Mountain Party candidate, has raised $9,477 and spent $5,176.

The state Attorney General’s race also has resulted in heavy spending: $3,562,197 so far this cycle.

In that race, too, candidates have spent more than they’ve raised. The total amount of contributions stands at $2,835,076.

The challenger, state Delegate Doug Reynolds, has spent $2,514,893. Of that, Reynolds’ campaign has reported $1,055,440.85 in spending within the past month.

His campaign has received $1,662,699 in contributions.

He is also one of his own biggest donors: $709,630 so far. Reynolds has loaned his own campaign $1,551,000. Plus, he made several in-kind contributions for advertising and food and beverages adding up to $660,691.

All that adds up to Reynolds making about $3 million out of his own pocket available to his campaign.

Incumbent Attorney General Patrick Morrisey has spent $1,038,663. Morrisey’s campaign has received $1,170,076 in contributions. 

Morrisey’s campaign has reported $710,068 in the past month, its busiest period of this election cycle.

Morrisey’s campaign is receiving lots of outside help from the Republican Attorney Generals Association, which is operating as Mountaineers are Always Free PAC. That group had spent $2,605,037 on the race as of Oct. 3. There was not yet a more recent report.

Other statewide races report lesser degrees of spending.

State Treasurer has had $271,120 in spending, including the primaries. Incumbent Democrat John Perdue has spent $201,293. Republican challenger Ann Urling has spent $65,173.

State Auditor has had $257,956 total, including the primaries. Republican J.B. McCuskey has spent $166,356. Democrat Mary Roebuck Claytor has spent $18,517.

Agriculture Commissioner: $135,522 in spending. Republican Kent Leonhardt has spent $107,790. Incumbent Democrat Walt Helmick has spent $26,192.

Secretary of State: $183,304 in spending. Republican challenger Mac Warner has spent $97,535. Incumbent Democrat Natalie Tennant has spent $53,990.

The total 2016 election cycle in West Virginia has resulted in $19,504,242 in contributions and $21,210,536 in spending, according to the Secretary of State’s office.