Fundraising Results Show Growth In Lankford Campaign, Team
U.S. Rep. James Lankford collects $1.2 million in three months after defeating T.W. Shannon
by Chris Casteel
WASHINGTON — U.S. Rep. James Lankford, the heavy favorite to win Oklahoma’s open U.S. Senate seat next week, collected $1.2 million in the last quarter, as former foe T.W. Shannon and a host of special interest groups kicked in cash.
Lankford’s haul — from July through September — came after the race was essentially decided. The Oklahoma City Republican beat Shannon, a state House member, in the GOP primary on June 24. And, though the hard part was definitely over in late June, Lankford spent $627,000 in the most recent quarter, with more than $145,000 going to his payroll.
The October quarterly campaign finance report reflects an operation that has come a long way from the social media-savvy, all-volunteer army Lankford assembled to win his first House race against long odds in 2010.
Back then, his campaign manager, Holly Isch, worked for free after quitting her job at the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma. In July, August and September of this year, she made $6,200 a month.