Mark Kelly reports raising $16M more than Martha McSally in 3rd quarter

PHOENIX – As the most expensive U.S. Senate race in Arizona history winds down, Democratic challenger Mark Kelly outraised Republican incumbent Martha McSally by about $16 million dollars in the latest quarter.

Kelly reported $38.8 million in July-September fundraising to the Federal Election Commission records, while McSally submitted $22.6 million for the same period.

The third-quarter figures reflect two FEC reports per candidate, one for the pre-primary period of July 1-15 and the other for July 16-Sept. 30.

It was the top fundraising quarter of the cycle for each candidate.

Kelly carried an $18.8 million war chest into the home stretch of race, while McSally had $12.2 million in cash on hand, per the FEC, so Arizonans can expect to the candidates’ ad blitzes to continue through the Nov. 3 election.

The challenger spent a whopping $43.9 million in the third quarter, about double his opponent’s $21.5 million, according to FEC records.

McSally-Kelly is No. 4 on the list of most expensive U.S. Senate races ever, according to CNN. Seven of the top 10 are current races.

The Arizona race is a key prize in the battle for control of the Senate.

According to Advertising Analytics, there has been more spending on political ads in Arizona over the past two years than any other state.

Markets with the most political TV spending for 2019-2020: pic.twitter.com/dxQPsZOguV

— Advertising Analytics (@Ad_Analytics) October 15, 2020

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