New Arizona US Senate fundraising reports show surprising numbers

PHOENIX – With under a year until the Arizona’s hotly contested Republican primary for U.S. Senate, the latest fundraising reports show some surprising numbers.

One thing that hasn’t changed in the last three months, however, is that Democratic incumbent Sen. Mark Kelly is lapping the field when it comes to piling up cash, according to third-quarter Federal Elections Commission reports.

Kelly took in a whopping $8.1 million in July-September, further filling a war chest that sits at $13 million as he looks to secure his first full term after winning the seat in a special election last year.

The four top Republican hopefuls raised approximately $5 million combined in the third quarter – including a $3 million loan from one candidate to his own campaign — and had $5.3 million combined cash on hand.

If self-loans are removed from the picture, venture capitalist Blake Masters had the best fundraising quarter in the Republican field and had the most cash on hand with about 10 months left until the August 2022 primary.

Masters, making his first FEC filing since entering the race in July, reported third-quarter receipts of more than $1.1 million — nearly doubling the closest competitor — and about $863,000 cash on hand.

“This is just the beginning,” Masters said in a press release. “We’re going to have to raise over $100 million to beat the Democrat incumbent Mark Kelly.

“They say the first million is the hardest, but I’m not complacent — I will make sure we have what’s needed to fight and win.”

Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich, considered by many the favorite to win the GOP primary, raised about $564,000 last quarter, beating his second-quarter haul by more than $100,000. Brnovich had about $514,000 cash on hand.

“Attorney General Mark Brnovich has tremendous support from across Arizona, raising money from every county in the state,” Joanna Duka, Brnovich campaign spokeswoman, said in a press release.

Mick McGuire, a retired Air Force major general and the former leader of the Arizona National Guard, reported just under $250,000 in third-quarter fundraising, including a loan to himself of $49,500.00, and about $315,000 cash on hand.

Businessman Jim Lamon actually had the biggest quarterly haul and most cash on hand of any Republican hopeful, but only because he’s loaned $5 million to his own campaign since he joined the race.

Outside of a $3 million self-loan, Lamon raised about $135,000 last quarter. He’s spent more than he’s taken in outside of his loans, leaving him with $3.6 million cash on hand.

Latecomer Justin Olson, a Republican on the Arizona Corporation Commission, joined the race last week and hasn’t yet had to file fundraising results.

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