Legislative Candidates Top $3 Million In Fundraising
Oklahoma legislative candidates raised more than $3 million so far
by Nolan Clay & Ben Felder
Led by a celebrity from a TV reality show, state legislative candidates already have raised more than $3 million from donors for this year’s upcoming elections.
The campaign reports — filed with the state Ethics Commission — indicate the 2016 races could be expensive, particularly in districts with open seats.
The reports, most filed over the past two weeks, reflect donations, loans and fund transfers from previous campaigns between Jan. 1, 2015, and March 31 of this year.
State Senate candidates have raised $1,181,044 in direct and in-kind contributions, according to their reports. State House candidates, meanwhile, have raised $2,084,480 in direct and in-kind contributions.
Some candidates also have raised funds by making loans to their campaigns, a total of $563,566, the records show.