The Kentucky Registry of Election Finance releases campaign financing reports every 60 days. With the general election coming up, legislative candidates raked in money from political action committees, otherwise known as PACs, and individual donors.
On Sept. 13, candidates filed their campaign finance reports ahead of the Nov. 8 election. They will also file reports 32 days and 15 days before the election. The reports show how much they’ve raised for the general election and how much money they have on hand.
There were also quite a few candidates that didn’t file reports, though KREF said there was an issue with their system that didn’t allow some candidates to file their 60-day reports. The system has since been updated.
Here is a look at Northern Kentucky candidates running for state House and Senate, the Kentucky Supreme Court, and the Kentucky Court of Appeals. Several candidates still haven’t filed KREF reports.
Read more about individual campaign finances here. Notable contributions are at least $500 and come from a well-known, public figure.
60th District
Marianne Proctor is running unopposed, and $4,763 of the funds in her account were transferred from her primary fundraising.
She raised an additional $700 this quarter, and $500 came from the Optometric PAC Committee.
She beat incumbent Sal Santoro (R-Union) in the Republican primary in May.
Beginning Balance: $0.00
Total Receipts: $5,463
Total Expenditures: $378
Ending Balance: $5,084
61st District
Incumbent Savannah Maddox (R-Dry Ridge) is facing off against Democrat Debby Lucas Angel.
Maddox is also running for Governor in 2023, but these numbers are just the money for her House seat. All of the $26,689 was transferred from her primary race in spring.
Beginning Balance: $0.00
Total Receipts: $26,689
Total Expenditures: $1,004
Ending Balance: $25,684
Debby Angel did not file a KREF report for the general election.
63rd District
Incumbent Kim Banta (R-Ft. Mitchell) is running unopposed. She did not file a report for the general election.
64th District
Incumbent Kim Moser (R-Taylor Mill) faces off against Democrat Anita Isaacs.
Moser raised $3,925 in individual contributions and $4,750 from PACs. The PACs included: Alkermes, Inc. Political Action Committee, A Multi-Candidate Committee, Merck Employees Political Action Committee, Phillips North America LLC PAC, and Kentucky Hospitals Circle Of Friends PAC.
She transferred $94,669 from her primary account.
Beginning Balance: $0
Total Receipts: $103,344
Total Expenditures: $31,665
Ending Balance: $71,679
Isaacs did not file a report for the general election.
65th District
Incumbent Buddy Wheatley (D-Covington) faces off against Republican Stephanie Dietz.
Wheatley raised $26,940 in individual contributions and $18,100.00 from PACs. PACs included: KY Attorneys Political Action Trust, Kenton County Executive Committee, Kepac Campaign Contribution Fund, Communications Workers Of America Political Action, Kentucky Women’s Network PAC, Iron Workers Local 44 Ipal, United Mine Workers Of America, Ibew PAC Voluntary Fund, Covington Firefighters PAC, Better Schools KY PAC, Boone County Democrat Women’s PAC, NKY Chamber PAC, Plumbers Pipefitters & M.E.S. Local 392 PAC, and the Kenton County Democratic Women’s Club.
He also raised an additional $5,000 from the Kentucky House Caucus Campaign Committee.
Wheatley received one notable donation from Covington Mayor Joe Meyer in the amount of $1,000.
Beginning Balance: $0
Total Receipts: $76,625
Total Expenditures: $14,647
Ending Balance: $61,977
Republican Dietz filed her report on 9/23, 10 days after the deadline.
Beginning Balance: $0
Total Receipts: $38,087
Total Expenditures: $11,742
Ending Balance: $26,344
She received $14,625 in individual contributions and $4,500 from PACs. PACs included: Northern Kentucky Chamber PAC, Bluegrass Committee A Multi Candidate Committee, Making A Sensible Shift In Elections PAC, and GOPAC Election Fund.
Notable donations include $2,000 from Joe Craft, a coal magnate and husband of Kelly Craft, a gubernatorial candidate. $1,000 from Bill Butler, CEO of Corporex. $500 from Kenton County Judge Executive Kris Knochelmann.
66th District
Republican Steve Rawlings, who ousted incumbent Ed Massey (R-Union) in the May primary, is running against Democrat Tim Montgomery.
Montgomery raised $2,790 in individual contributions and $2,650 from PACs. PACs include Kentucky Women’s Network PAC, Teamsters Local 89 Drive (PAC), Ibew PAC Voluntary Fund, Boone County Democratic Women’s PAC, and the Teamsters Local 100 Drive (PAC).
Beginning Balance: $0
Total Receipts: $5,849
Total Expenditures: $3,935
Ending Balance: $1,913
He also raised $250 from the Boone County Democratic Executive Committee.
Rawlings raised $2,600 in individual contributions. He transferred $877 from his Primary campaign.
Beginning Balance: $0
Total Receipts: $3,477
Total Expenditures: $862
Ending Balance: $2,615
Notable contributions include a $500 donation from Jerry Falwell Jr., a leader in the Evangelical church who resigned from Liberty University in 2020 after several scandals.
67th District
Incumbent Rachel Roberts (D-Newport) faces Republican challenger Jerry Gearding.
Roberts raised $25,998 in individual donations and $8,250 in PACs. PACs include Kentucky Women’s Network PAC, Communication Workers (Cwa – Cope PAC), General Drivers Warehousemen & Helpers Local #89, Merck PAC, Better Schools KY, and Plumbers Pipefitters & M.E.S. Local 39.
Roberts also received $1,000 from the Campbell County Democratic Executive Committee and $5,000 from the Kentucky House Democratic Caucus Campaign Committee.
She transferred $58,571 from her previous campaigns.
Beginning Balance: $0
Total Receipts: $98,819
Total Expenditures: $29,510
Ending Balance: $69,309
Gearding raised $2,565 from individual contributions and $516 in self-funded donations. He transferred $852 from his previous campaign fundraising efforts.
Beginning Balance: $0
Total Receipts: $3,933
Total Expenditures: $2,522
Ending Balance: $1,410
68th District
Democrat Kelly Jones faces Republican Mike Clines. The seat is open after Rep. Joseph Fischer (R-Ft. Thomas) announced he is running for the Kentucky Supreme Court.
Jones raised $9,466 in individual contributions and $5,000 from PACs. PACs include Kepac, Kentucky Women’s Network PAC, and Ibew PAC Voluntary Fund.
She also received $2,000 from the Campbell County Democratic Executive Committee.
Notable contributors include:
Beginning Balance: $0
Total Receipts: $16,466
Total Expenditures: $7,355
Ending Balance: $9,110
Clines raised $27,280 from individual contributions and $5,000 from PACs. PACs include Northern Kentucky Chamber PAC, Bluegrass Committee, KY Attorneys PAC, Kentucky Chamber PAC, Make A Sensible Shift In Elections PAC, and he transferred $3,187.81 from his previous campaign funds.
Notable contributions include $2,000 from Joe Craft, a coal magnate, and husband of Kelly Craft, a gubernatorial candidate. $1,500 from Thomas Munninghoff, president of Munninghoff Lange & Co. $1,000 from David Heidrich, CEO of Zalla Companies. $500 from Kris Knochelmann, Kenton County Judge Executive. $1,000 from Debbie Franzen, wife of Campbell County Attorney Steve Franzen. $500 from Steve Pendery, Campbell County Judge Executive. $2,000 from Bill Butler, CEO of Corporex.
Beginning Balance: $0
Total Receipts: $35,468
Total Expenditures: $5,127
Ending Balance: $30,340
69th District
Republican Steve Doan will face off against Democrat Chris Brown after the former defeated long-time incumbent Adam Koenig (R-Erlanger) in the May primary.
Doan raised $8,560 in individual contributions and $1,000 from PACs. PACs include Massie PAC, the PAC for U.S. Congressman Thomas Massie.
Notable contributions include $500 from attorney Chris Wiest. $2,000 from James Bruggemann, the president of Bavarian Waste
Beginning Balance: $0
Total Receipts: $10,840
Total Expenditures: $759
Ending Balance: $10,080
Brown received $14,171 in individual contributions and $3,000 from PACs. PACs include Kepac Campaign Contribution Fund and Kentucky Women’s Network PAC.
She also received $500 from the Boone County Democratic Exec. Committee and $500 from the Kenton County Democratic Executive Committee.
Beginning Balance: $0
Total Receipts: $18,171
Total Expenditures: $4,217
Ending Balance: $13,954
78th District
Rep. Mark Hart (R-Falmouth) is running unopposed.
He transferred $20,398 from his previous campaigns.
Beginning Balance: $0
Total Receipts: $20,398
Total Expenditures: $1,450
Ending Balance: $18,947
Senate District 20
Republican Gex Williams is facing off against Democrat Teresa Barton in the newly drawn district, which was previously held by the retiring Sen. Paul Hornback (R-Shelbyville).
Williams has raised $32,757 from individual contributions and $6,200 from PACs. PACs include Bluegrass Committee, Making A Sensible Shift In Elections, Northern Kentucky Right To Life PAC, GOPAC Election Fund, and KY Motorcycle Freedom Fund.
He has also received a $16,000 donation from the Senate Republican Caucus Campaign Committee.
He transferred $2,760 from his previous campaign funds.
Notable contributions include $2,000 from Greg Fischer, chairman of Fischer Homes.
Beginning Balance: $0
Total Receipts: $57,717
Total Expenditures: $37,017
Ending Balance: $20,700
Barton received $34,025 in individual contributions and nothing from PACs. She received $1,000 from the KY Women’s Network Caucus Campaign Committee.
Notable contributions include $500 from Ernie Fletcher, former governor of Kentucky.
She transferred $20,436 from her previous campaigns.
Beginning Balance: $0
Total Receipts: $55,462
Total Expenditures: $23,568
Ending Balance: $31,893
Senate District 24
Republican Shelley Funke Frommeyer faces off against Democrat Rene Heinrich. The seat is open after Sen. Wil Schroder (R-Wilder) announced he wouldn’t run again.
Frommeyer received $28,900 in individual contributions and $10,000 from PACs. PACs include Kentucky Hospitals Circle Friends, Northern Kentucky Chamber PAC, Kentucky Chamber PAC, Bluegrass Committee, Duke Energy Corporation PAC, Making A Sensible Shift In Elections PAC, Pendleton County Republican Party, and Kentucky Association Of Chiropractors PAC.
She transferred $1,722 from her previous campaigns.
Notable contributions include $500 from attorney Steve Megerle. $1,000 from Kenton County Judge Executive Kris Knochelmann. $500 from David Heidrich, CEO of Zalla Companies. $1,000 from Bill Butler, CEO of Corporex. $500 from former state Senator Katie Stine. $1,000 from Brent Cooper, CEO of the Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce. $2,000 from Greg Fischer, chairman of Fischer Homes.
Beginning Balance: $0
Total Receipts: $40,595
Total Expenditures: $13,289
Ending Balance: $27,305
Heinrich received $19,266 in individual contributions and $5,000 from PACs. PACs include Kentucky Educators’ Political Action Committee, Kentucky Women’s Network PAC, and Ibew PAC Voluntary Fund.
She also received $2,000 from the Campbell County Democratic Executive Committee.
She transferred $14,329 from her previous campaigns.
The Kentucky Supreme Court – Sixth District
Incumbent Michelle Keller will face Joseph Fischer in this highly contested election, which could change the shape of the Kentucky Supreme Court.
Keller raised $118,720 in individual contributions and $2,800 from PACs. PACs include Ibew PAC Voluntary Fund, Cwa-Cope Pcc, and Ibew PAC Voluntary Fund.
She transferred $42,874 from her previous campaigns.
Notable contributions include $2,000 from Jane Beshear, wife of former Kentucky governor Steve Beshear and mother of current Governor Andy Beshear. $2,000 from Bill Butler, CEO of Corporex. $2,000 from Steve Beshear, former Kentucky governor.
Beginning Balance: $0
Total Receipts: $164,394
Total Expenditures: $47,251
Ending Balance: $117,143
Joseph Fischer didn’t file a KREF report.
Kentucky Court of Appeals – Division 2 of the 6th Appellate District
Incumbent Susanne Cetrulo faces Bob Winter.
Winter hasn’t filed his KREF report.
Cetrulo raised $24,950 in individual contributions and $2,750 from PACs. PACs include Cwa-Cope Pcc and the Ibew PAC Voluntary Fund.
Notable contributions include $1,000 from Gary Holland, CEO of Holland Corporation. $5,000 from attorney Blake Maislin, though $3,000 was given back because individuals can only donate a maximum of $2,000 to candidates in Kentucky. $500 from David Heidrich, CEO of Zalla Companies.
She loaned herself $100,000.
Beginning Balance: $0
Total Receipts: $127,700
Total Expenditures: $48,663
Ending Balance: $79,036
