Jones outraises Tuberville in July; Tuberville retains financial edge in governor’s race

Democratic gubernatorial nominee Doug Jones outraised Republican nominee Sen. Tommy Tuberville in June and July, according to recent campaign filings, but Tuberville retains a considerable edge in overall cash. 

According to campaign finance reports filed on Tuesday, Jones raised $622,000 in July to Tuberville’s $290,000.  Jones also outraised Tuberville in June with nearly $486,000 to Tuberville’s $415,000.

However, Tuberville retains a major edge in cash on hand, thanks in part to a steady stream of donations of $25,000 or more. As of July 31, Tuberville’s campaign had $9.2 million. Jones had $1.7 million.

Tuberville’s campaign manager, Jordan Doufexis, touted the senator’s overall fundraising efforts in an email on Wednesday.

“Coach (Tuberville) has raised $13.7 million. Unlike Doug Jones, Coach has also accepted ZERO PAC (political action committee) money,” the statement said. “Coach has been busy representing Alabama in the United States Senate. We’ll begin our general election fundraising push during this August recess.”

A message seeking comment was left with Jones Wednesday.

Both candidates have received money from political action committees (PACs). Tuberville has gotten $10,000 from PACs to his campaign and Jones has received just over $25,000 from the organizations.

Tuberville’s PAC donations include $2,500 from Diversified Gas & Oil Company PAC last September, $2,500 from The Travelers Companies Inc. PAC in February and $5,000 from the Home Depot Political Action Committee in May. He also received in-kind donations from PACs including $3,600 from BANKPAC last August, $7,200 from the Alabama Trucking Association’s Truk PAC for a fundraising event last September and nearly $3,000 from Alabama Farm PAC in February.

Mallory Jaspers, communications director for Tuberville, said in an email Wednesday afternoon the campaign “do not solicit or accept PAC contributions. If they are sent to us, we return them but are still required to report them.”

Jones’ PAC donations are all cash and include $2,500 from Speak Up PAC in December; $1,000 from Blue Hen Federal PAC in December; $10 from Heart of Dixie Obligation PAC in January; $5,000 from United Steel Workers District 9 in February; $2,500 from GoDekalb PAC in February; $2,500 from Groundwork Project PAC in April; $2,500 from Speak Up PAC in June; $5,000 from IBEW PAC in July; $3,000 from the Marengo County Democratic Executive Committee in July and $1,000 from Democratic Majority Action in July.

Last month, Jones spent $400,000. Between December and July, he spent nearly $2 million. Tuberville spent $314,000 last month and since last May has spent $5 million through the end of July. Most campaigns begin major spending in the fall as the election approaches. 

According to campaign filings, Tuberville has raised $13.7 million since he announced his candidacy last May while Jones has raised $3.6 million from December through the end of July.

During their campaign for the U.S. Senate in 2020, Jones, then the incumbent, outraised and outspent Tuberville sometimes by a factor of more than 3-to-1. Tuberville won the election with more than 60% of the vote.