As primary draws near, here’s how Arizona’s US Senate campaigns stack up financially

PHOENIX – Arizona’s Republican U.S. Senate primary field burned through more than $12 million during a freewheeling second quarter, but there was plenty left to spend over the last month of the race.

The five candidates combined still had nearly $4.7 million cash on hand at the end of June, according to Federal Election Commission records.

Friday was the deadline for candidates to submit their second-quarter campaign finance reports, the final filings before the Aug. 2 primary.

Second-quarter finance trends weren’t much different than what was seen in the first quarter, with self-funded businessman Jim Lamon throwing around the most money but Blake Masters gathering the most in donations.

However, there was a big shift in polling. Masters, sparked by Donald Trump’s endorsement in early June, assumed front-runner status despite being outspent 4-to-1 by Lamon in the second quarter.

Masters raised about $827,000 from April to June and spent just under $1.5 million, leaving the venture capitalist with nearly $1.6 million for the home stretch of the primary phase.

Lamon spent about twice as much as the other four candidates combined from April to June. He also loaned his campaign another $1 million in the quarter, bringing his self-support total to $14 million. He took in an additional $216,000 in contributions but spent a whopping $6.3 million, leaving him with a little over $2 million cash on hand.

After starting the campaign as the front-runner, Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich is jockeying for second place in polling with Lamon and is a clear third in fundraising. He raised more than $526,000 in the second quarter and spent $543,000, leaving him with more than $512,000 on hand.

Mick McGuire had a big spending quarter with nearly $950,000 in outlays, but he was unable to gain polling traction from his fourth-place spot. The former Arizona National Guard leader raised about $348,000 during the period and started July with nearly $400,000 on hand.

Arizona Corporation Commissioner Justin Olson, who has been bringing up the rear in polling and fundraising, took in more than $32,000 in the second quarter and spent about $61,000, leaving him with approximately $143,000 on hand.

While the Republican hopefuls burned through their bankrolls for the chance to take on Sen. Mark Kelly in the November general election, the Democrat used the power of incumbency to inflate his formidable war chest while also ramping up spending.

Kelly spent about $12 million from April to June, nearly doubling his outlay from the previous quarter. Despite not facing a primary challenger, he raised about $13.5 million, more than all five Republicans combined, and ended the quarter with $25 million on hand.

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