By Chip Brownlee
Alabama Political Reporter
Gov. Kay Ivey has received five major contributions in the past week to her gubernatorial campaign, which she still has not officially announced.
In total, she has brought in at least $175,000, so far, for her campaign for a full term, and that’s just since Aug. 25. If her fundraising continues at this pace, she will soon catch up with Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle, who has more than $668,000 on hand.
Battle — who reported a $20,000 major contribution this week — has been fundraising since the early summer.
So far, all of Ivey’s contributions have been major contributions of $25,000 and $50,000 from five different people: $25,000 from Wayne T. Smith of Nashville, James W. Wilson III from Montgomery and William B. Wilson of Montgomery.
She has also accepted $50,000 from Roy Drinkard of Cullman and $50,000 from Great Southern Wood owner and longtime Republican donor Jimmy Rane. Rane was a longtime ally and backer of former House Speaker Mike Hubbard.
In the last two weeks, Ivey filed the campaign finance paperwork needed to run for a full-term next year, according to documents filed with the Secretary of State’s Office.
Ivey filed the paperwork with the Secretary of State’s Office Friday, Aug. 18. The paperwork, which establishes a campaign committee, all but confirms that Ivey will run for re-election.
“Governor Ivey continues to seriously consider her future. She is always prepared to be successful and is strongly leaning toward a decision,” said Ivey’s spokesman, Daniel Sparkman.
She still has not publicly announced her intentions to run.
he has repeatedly denied commenting on whether she would seek re-election, citing her desire to “steady the ship of state” before deciding if she would run for a full term.
Over the month, several candidates who had filed to run for Governor or were considering it changed their candidacy to other offices or said they would not seek the post, essentially moving over for Ivey to run.
Senate President Pro Tem Del Marsh, who was considering a run for Governor, said he would not seek the office and said he wanted to work with governor Ivey. And Public Service Commission President Twinkle Cavanaugh changed from the gubernatorial race to the race for Lieutenant Governor last week, citing her desire not to run against Ivey.
Ivey will face a crowded field of Republican candidates if she chooses to move ahead with her campaign. Battle, Agriculture Commissioner John McMillan and Sen. Bill Hightower have all announced their intentions to run, and all three have large amounts of cash on hand after fundraising and campaigning across the state over the summer.
Candidates must file their next monthly reports, which will include smaller donations, by Sept. 5. Republican party candidates qualification will begin Jan. 8 and end Feb. 9.
The primary for the Republican nomination is set for June 5.
