Every 90 days, the Kentucky Registry of Election Finance releases campaign financing reports. With the primary races coming up, legislative candidates raked in money from both political action committees (PACs) and individual donors.
Last week we detailed the House candidates in NKY, and this week we look at the two Senate races this year. Gex “Jay” Williams was the only Senatorial candidate in Northern Kentucky that accepted money from a Political Action Committee.
There were three Senate seats in Northern Kentucky, but now there are four. Senate District 11, which is currently represented by Sen. John Schickel (R-Union), comprised the entirety of the county, but after redistricting, the county was split in half due to the considerable population growth there. With the split, the southern half of Boone County and the southwestern portion of Kenton County moved to District 20 with Gallatin, Carroll, Owen, and Franklin counties. Currently, District 20 is made up of Henry, Shelby, Tremble, Carroll, and part of Jefferson. It is represented by State Senator Paul Hornback (R-Shelbyville).
Sen. Paul Hornback (R-Shelbyville) is the current holder of the 20th District but is retiring after this term. The Republican primary is flush with candidates and cash as several candidates are vying for that position.
Let’s take a look at Senate District 20 and how much money has been raised by the candidates in the first quarter.
Phyllis Sparks
Beginning Balance: $0.00
Total Receipts: $65,372.00
Total Expenditures: $21,370.25
Ending Balance: $44,001.75
Sparks loaned her campaign $50,000 of her own money. She raised $15,372 in itemized, non-itemized, and anonymous contributions.
Calen Studler
Beginning Balance: $0.00
Total Receipts: $17,192.21
Total Expenditures: $9,444.31
Ending Balance: $7,747.90
Studler raised $15,320 in itemized and anonymous donations. He loaned his campaign $1,872.21.
Gex “Jay” Williams
Beginning Balance: $0.00
Total Receipts: $53,701.46
Total Expenditures: $28,287.70
Ending Balance: $25,413.76
Williams raised $47,475.43 in itemized, non-itemized, and anonymous donations. He received $2,200.00 from Political Action Committees: Making A Sensible Shift In Elections PAC: $2,000. Ky Motorcycle Freedom Fund PAC: $200.
Mike Templeman
Beginning Balance: $0.00
Total Receipts: $18,179.70
Total Expenditures: $17,616.95
Ending Balance: $562.75
Templeman raised $679.70 in itemized contributions. He loaned his campaign $17,500.00.
The lone Democrat: Teresa Azbill Barton.
Beginning Balance: $0.00
Total Receipts: $15,450.00
Total Expenditures: $510.51
Ending Balance: $14,939.49
Barton raised $4,950 in itemized and anonymous contributions. She gave her own campaign $10,500.00.
In the 24th District, Wil Schroder (R-Wilder) has decided he won’t run for reelection, and his seat is also up for grabs.
Shelley Funke Frommeyer
Beginning Balance: $14,862.09
Total Receipts: $21,270.00
Total Expenditures: $3,998.22
Ending Balance: $32,133.87
Frommeyer raised $21,452 in itemized and cash contributions.
Jessica Neal
Beginning Balance: $0.00
Total Receipts: $19,722.21
Total Expenditures: $10,606.21
Ending Balance: $9,116.00
Neal raised $18,780 in itemized and anonymous contributions. She gave herself $942.21 indirect contributions.
Chris Robinson
Beginning Balance: $0.00
Total Receipts: $18,933.43
Total Expenditures: $11,278.49
Ending Balance: $7,654.94
Robinson raised $8,163 in cash, anonymous, and itemized contributions. He loaned himself $10,770.43.
The lone Democrat: Rene Heinrich
Beginning Balance: $0.00
Total Receipts: $20,474.95
Total Expenditures: $4,822.97
Ending Balance: $15,651.98
Heinrich raised $20,474.05 in cash and itemized contributions.