Evan Bayh drains his federal campaign accounts with $2.4M to state Dems amid son’s race

Former U.S. Sen. Evan Bayh has now handed over most of his stockpiled campaign cash by giving more than $1.7 million this month to Indiana Democratic Party accounts in the final weeks of his son’s run for secretary of state.

Evan Bayh’s total transfers to state Democrats now total at least $2.4 million during the time party officials have directed $2.2 million toward boosting Beau Bayh’s campaign since early September.

Those sums have contributed to a significant ongoing fundraising advantage for Bayh over Republican candidate Max Engling with less than two weeks remaining ahead of the Nov. 3 Election Day.

State campaign reports showed Bayh and Engling ending September each with about $400,000 in the bank.

Since then in reports of contributions topping $1,000 through Tuesday, Bayh has reported collecting nearly $2.2 million — including $1.5 million from the state Democratic Party. Engling has added about $840,000 — with $636,000 coming from the state Republican Party.

Evan Bayh declined to comment about the financial transfers in a phone call Wednesday with the Capital Chronicle.

Democrat keeps up fundraising advantage in secretary of state’s race

Beau Bayh’s campaign and a state Democratic Party spokesman did not immediately reply to messages seeking comment.

Engling has criticized what he describes as Bayh’s reliance on his father’s network for secretary of state campaign funds, saying in a recent message that “Washington Democrats have spent millions trying to buy it for him.”

Engling spokeswoman Chloe Anagnos told the Capital Chronicle on Wednesday that “Hoosiers can draw their own conclusions about the Bayh family’s financial influence in this race.”

“We’re confident in the resources and support behind Max Engling heading into Election Day and remain focused on communicating his message to Hoosier voters,” she said. 

Lincoln Party candidate Greg Ballard has reported $20,000 in large contributions this month, with none reported by Libertarian Lauri Shillings.

The Evan Bayh transfers largely drain his federal campaign fund and a political action committee he controls that had largely been dormant and collecting investment income since his unsuccessful 2016 Senate comeback race.

A report filed Tuesday with the Federal Election Commission shows about $1.3 million in October transfers from Bayh’s Senate campaign account on top of $700,000 transferred during September. That money has gone to a federal campaign fund operated by state Democrats called the Indiana Democratic Congressional Victory Committee.

Bayh’s Senate campaign fund had about $2.2 million in July, but that has now dropped to about $200,000, according to the FEC filing.

Bayh’s All America PAC reported $400,000 in October contributions to the state Democratic Party after a $200,000 transfer in September. Those leave it with $10,000.