Voters cast their ballots at the Northern Kentucky Convention Center in November 2022. Photo by Alecia Ricker | LINK nky contributor

Republican Secretary of State Michael Adams has far outraised his opponent, Democrat Charles “Buddy” Wheatley, but the former doesn’t have any Northern Kentucky donors in the latest report from the Kentucky Registry for Election Finance. 

Outside of the governor’s race, this Secretary of State’s race will be one of the most hotly contested races in the country this election cycle. 

Here are the top donors, according to each candidate’s 30-day post-primary fundraising reports. 

Note: There are numerous other small donations from NKY, but LINK nky chose the largest ones — typically at least $500. You can find more about smaller donations here. 

The individual donation limit is $2,100 per person. 

As of June 19, Republican incumbent Michael Adams has raised $285,102.46 overall. 

He raised $13,550.00 in the past 30 days. 

He has spent $118,985.77 overall and has $166,116.69 on hand. 

Even though Adams did not receive donations from anyone in the NKY Metro, he did receive some sizeable donations.

  • Adams received a $500 donation from Robbin Taylor, the state director for U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell. 
  • Jason Fahey of Shelbyville donated $2,100. 
  • Charter Spectrum Employee PAC donated $2,100. 
  • John Jenkins of Louisville, a partner at Cornerstone Strategies, donated $1,100
  • Jan Karzen of Louisville donated $1,000. 
  • Ryan Germany, of Atlanta, Georgia, donated $500. Germany is a former general counsel to Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensberger. 
  • Bridget Bush, of Anchorage, Ky., donated $500.  

Wheatley has raised $89,188.83 overall. 

He raised $8,427.55 in the past 30 days. 

He has spent $40,638.03 overall and has $48,550.80 on hand. 

  • Jacquie Knapp of Covington donated $500.
  • Ryan Olexia, a veterinarian from Covington, also donated $500. Olexia ran against Sen. Chris McDaniel (R-Ryland Heights) in the 2020 general election for Senate District 23. 
  • Ann Dickerson of Independence donated $500 to Wheatley’s campaign.
  • Elizabeth Fox of Union donated $1,100.
  • Jacqueline Carroll of Villa Hills donated $500.
  • Wheatley received a $500 donation from Ellen Yonts Suetholz, the coordinator for the Kentucky Public Pension Coalition, an affiliate of the National Public Pension Coalition. She is also a registered lobbyist with Working Strategies 2. 
  • Michael Vorhaus of Los Angeles, Calif, donated $1,000. 
  • State Board of Elections member Jerry Johnson donated $500. 

Notably, Wheatley’s campaign paid $8,568.47 to the Kentucky Democratic Party for payroll during the reporting period. 

Mark Payne is the government and politics reporter for LINK nky. Email him at mpayne@linknky.com. Twitter.