By Brandon Moseley
Alabama Political Reporter
Alabama Governor Kay Ivey (R) continues to lead the field in campaign fundraising ahead of the 2018 primary. The Governor closed October with a reported ending balance of $1,616,029.87 in her campaign account, more than any of her competitors, from either major party, for the state’s highest office.
Gov. Ivey reported raising cash contributions in October of $391,146.24. Her campaign spent just $62,985.64 in October.
Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle raised $139,395 in cash contributions. Myron Battle also reported 6,068.18 of in-kind contributions and itemized receipts from other sources of $218.69 during October. Battle had $67,411.72 in expenses for an ending balance of $1,120,199.65.
State Senator Bill Hightower (R-Mobile) reported cash contributions of $51,130 during October and expenditures of $25,221.15 for an ending balance of $572,131.06.
Evangelist Scott Dawson raised cash contributions of $60,132 and spent $45,354.93 to produce an ending balance of $315,781.19.
Former Morgan County Commissioner Stacy George, who has been working on his book, reports that he did not have any cash contributions in October. He also had no campaign expenses. He finishes the month with an ending balance of just $60.06.
Jefferson County Commissioner David Carrington has suspended his gubernatorial campaign.
Public Service Commission President Twinkle Andress Cavanaugh has decided to run for Lieutenant Governor.
State Auditor Jim Zeigler (R) has announced that he is exploring possible running for Governor. Zeigler has said that he will make an announcement after the Senate special election in December.
Running in the Democratic Primary, former state Alabama Supreme Court Justice Sue Bell Cobb continues to lead the fundraising field. Judge Cobb raised cash contributions of $55,718.00 during October. Judge Cobb also reported in-kind contributions of $5,500.00. Cobb reported expenditures of $22,625.72 and line of credit Expenditures of $3,723.63 for an ending balance of $120,405.83.
Former State Representative James C. Fields reported cash contributions of just $200 and expenditures of $973 for an ending balance of $1,202. There is some speculation that Fields may run for Lieutenant Governor, like he did in 2014.
Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox announced that he is running for Governor during October; but he did not file a campaign finance report at the end of the month so presumably had not started campaign fundraising yet.
Mark Wylie Johnston of Hayden is running as an independent for Governor. His campaign came into October with just $26,769.81, reported cash contributions of $0.00, campaign expenditures of $17,050.42 and an ending balance of $9,719.39.
The major party primaries are on June 5, 2018.
