Northern Kentucky’s gubernatorial candidates raised about 10 percent of what challenger Andy Beshear has raised this quarter — combined.
That’s according to second quarter campaign finance reports that Rep. Savannah Maddox (R-Dry Ridge) and former attorney Eric Deters filed.
Republican candidate newcomer Maddox, who announced her candidacy last month, raised just over $110,000 for her first month. She had 188 itemized contributions, and $7,500 of those came from the Bruggemann family – Dominic, Greg, John, James, and Maria – which owns Bavarian Waste in Walton.
Also notable among the Maddox donations is attorney Chris Wiest who donated $1,000.
“In just over three weeks, we were able to exceed our fundraising goal and raise $110,000 from hundreds of individual donors,” Maddox said. “Our campaign has demonstrated that Kentuckians yearn for authentic conservative leadership that is bold, yet experienced. I am running a grassroots campaign for governor to lead from the front for Kentucky values — not for woke corporations and special interests.”
Wiest, who filed a lawsuit against Deters on behalf of a former employee, gave a speech at Maddox’s gubernatorial announcement and said that Maddox is someone who stands up for constitutional rights regardless of popularity.
“We need more people like Savannah and Felicia (Rep. Felicia Rabourn) in government,” Wiest said at the kickoff.
Elsewhere, Eric Deters raised nearly $31,000, with $25,000 of those funds coming from his own pocket and the other $6,000 coming from 23 donors. Deters told LINK nky he plans to mostly self-finance, though he will hold some fundraisers.
“My focus has been organizing my campaign,” Deters said. “I have put together a great team. I plan to hold fundraisers and raise money, but it’s not a priority for me because I have made it known I plan to primarily self-finance.”
Deters was initially running in the Republican party field but switched his party affiliation to independent after former President Donald Trump endorsed Attorney General Daniel Cameron.
Kentucky Agriculture Commissioner Ryan Quarles is leading the Republican charge in fundraising, with more than $574,000 raised. His campaign reported raising the funds from more than 700 donors, with 94 percent being Kentucky residents and at least one individual donation coming from all of Kentucky’s 120 counties.
“The 2023 Governors race won’t be decided by national political figures or in smoke-filled back rooms,” said Quarles. “It will be decided by everyday Kentuckians who want to make Kentucky the best place to live, work, and raise a family. Our strategy of taking this campaign to all 120 counties is working, and we look forward to continuing to travel to every corner of the Commonwealth so we can replace our current Governor with one dedicated to serving everyone, not just his political backers.”
Democratic incumbent Andy Beshear is outraising the entire Republican field, however, with his campaign reporting more than $1.1 million raised in the second quarter, with just over 90 percent of that coming from Kentucky citizens.
“I appreciate everyone who is pitching in to keep Kentucky moving forward,” Beshear said. “This report demonstrates bipartisan confidence in the work we are doing here in Kentucky to ensure that we are a place where every family can thrive. With record job creation and a roaring economy, Kentucky has emerged from the pandemic stronger than ever. It is more critical than ever that we continue to be a place where everyone is treated with dignity and compassion, and that’s always how I’ll lead.”