Jones, Tuberville nearly even in September fundraising; Tuberville maintains funding lead

Democratic gubernatorial nominee Doug Jones and Republican gubernatorial nominee Tommy Tuberville raised almost identical amounts of money in September, though Tuberville retained an edge in spending and cash on hand.

According to campaign finance documents filed Friday, Republican candidates for Alabama’s constitutional offices generally outraised Democratic nominees last month, though spending within individual races varied significantly.

Governor

According to campaign finance reports, Jones raised $1.12 million to Tuberville’s $1.13 million during September. However, Tuberville remains ahead of Jones with cash on hand with $6.5 million to Jones’ $2.2 million. Tuberville also outspent Jones last month, putting down $4 million while Jones spent $1.5 million.

Malloy Jaspers, communications director for the Tuberville campaign, said in a statement Monday afternoon that “Coach continues to raise and spend money at a record pace to make sure Alabama candidates up and down the ballot win on Nov. 3.”

Jones criticized one of Tuberville’s donations in a Substack post Sunday.

“We just found out that toward the end of September, Tommy Tuberville accepted yet another massive contribution from a data center company, this time for $20,000,” the post said. “We are in just about the opposite position from Tommy Tuberville. We’re still behind in fundraising, but we have an extraordinary grassroots movement behind us, and the energy on the ground is like nothing I’ve ever seen.”

Campaign finance records show that Tuberville received $20,000 from TCBC Development Company, a computer systems design company in Cottonwood.

Both candidates received money from political action committees. Jones received $1,500 from the Chilton County Democratic Party; $1,000 from the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers & Trainmen; $3,000 from March On PAC and $1,000 from New Direction PAC. Tuberville received $100,000 from the Alabama Realtors Political Action Committee.

The fundraising numbers were closer than gubernatorial campaigns of recent years. In September 2018, Republican Gov. Kay Ivey, then seeking her first full term in office, raised a little over $735,000. Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox, the Democratic nominee for the office, raised just over $373,000 that month. 

Commissioner of Agriculture & Industries

The two candidates for commissioner of Agriculture and Industries were evenly matched in fundraising in September. Corey Hill, the Republican nominee for commissioner of agriculture and industries, raised $58,900 to Sparks’ $55,200. Sparks spent $36,200 while Hill only spent $2,200.

Hill said in a text message Monday afternoon “I continue to be grateful for the outpouring of support from people from all over Alabama.”

Sparks said in an interview Monday afternoon he was proud of the money he raised and the amount spent was to help amplify the campaign’s message.

“We wanted to get our message out, and that was our strategy: to try to get as much out as we could, so people will start listening to the commissioner of agriculture race and not other races,” Sparks said.

Corey Hill, Ron Sparks face off in race for commissioner of Agriculture and Industries

Hill maintains the edge in cash on hand with $142,600 to Sparks’ $119,500. 

Both received money from PACs. Hill received $1,000 from Reaching For A Brighter America PAC; $1,500 from Montgomery County GOP Executive PAC; $10,000 from the Alabama Realtors PAC and $7,500 from Progress PAC.

Sparks received $5,250 from Persist PAC; $1,500 from BIZ PAC; $5,000 from Persist PAC; $500 from March On PAC and $5,000 from the Poarch Creek Indian PAC.

Lieutenant Governor

In the lieutenant governor race, Republican nominee John Wahl has been consistently outraisng his Democratic opponent Phillip Ensler. Last month, Wahl raised $155,100 and Ensler raised $81,500. However Ensler spent more than Wahl, dropping $32,800 to Wahl’s $25,000.

Ensler in a statement Monday said he had received contributions “from nearly 600 donors” since Aug. 1, while Wahl “has received contributions from about 30 — meaning nearly 20 times as many people have chosen to financially support Phillip’s campaign.”

A message seeking comment was left with Wahl Monday. The Alabama Secretary of State’s website lists 34 separate contributions to Wahl’s campaign between Aug. 1 and Sept. 30, to about 544 for Ensler. It was not clear how many of those were single donors and how many were repeat.

“We are proud of the broad grassroots support we have built visiting over 60 of Alabama’s 67 counties, and we will continue aggressively raising the resources necessary to communicate with voters across Alabama through Election Day,” Ensler’s statement said.

Both candidates received PAC money. Wahl received $50,000 from the Alabama Realtors Political Action Committee; $20,000 from the Alabama Credit Union Legislative Action Council; $5,000 from SAVEPAC; $5,000 from FAXPAC; $5,000 from TELPAC; $5,000 from Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP; $1,000 from the Cullman County Republican Women PAC; $5,000 from the Petroleum & Convenience Marketers of Alabama PAC; $25,000 from ALAPAC and $5,000 from the Republican State Leadership Committee.

Ensler received $1,000 from the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers & Trainmen PAC Fund; $5,000 from IBEW PAC and $8,000 from Persistence PAC.

Wahl retains the lead with cash on hand with $348,300. Ensler has $154,700 on hand.

Attorney General

Republican nominee Katherine Robertson once again raised and spent more than her Democratic opponent Jeff McLaughlin. Robertson raised $241,200 to McLaughlin’s $21,200 and spent $24,200. McLaughlin spent $14,800.

A message seeking comment was left with Robertson Monday. McLaughlin said in an interview Monday he’s going “to take what money I’ve received from individuals and buy whatever time I can with it, and try to get my message out.” 

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McLaughlin has not taken any PAC money throughout his entire campaign. Last month, Robertson received $1,000 from the Alabama CPA PAC; $10,000 from the Retailers of Alabama PAC; $10,000 from the Alabama Beverage Association PAC; $1,000 from the Wallace, Jordan, Ratliff and Brandt PAC; $25,000 from Trust Representing Involved Alabama Lawyers (TRIAL); $25,000 from ALAPAC; $5,000 from the Home Depot Action Committee; $25,000 from Alabama Builders PAC; $2,500 from AT&T Alabama PAC; $10,000 from PROG Holdings, Inc. PAC and $1,000 from ARDA-Resort Owners Coalition PAC. 

McLaughlin has long shunned PAC money, and said Monday that he thought “it’s important to know who’s behind a candidate (and with) a lot of PACs, it’s hard to sort that out.”

“I’ve always thought if you can accept campaign contributions, accept them from the people and from individuals only,” he said.

Robertson also remains far ahead of McLaughin in cash on hand, with $4.4 million to McLaughlin’s $20,300.

Secretary of State

Republican secretary of state nominee Caroleene Dobson outraised her opponent Wayne Rogers last month with $42,200 to Rogers’ $5,600. Dobson spent $13,400 to Rogers’ $5,000.

Messages seeking comment were left with Dobson and Rogers Monday. 

Rogers did not accept PAC money last month. Dobson received $2,000 from the Alabama Federation of Republican Women; $10,000 from the Alabama Realtors PAC; $25,000 from ALAPAC and $5,000 from Bradley Arant Boult Cummings PAC.

Key Points box written by Editor Brian Lyman.