$13.6 Million: North Carolina Parties Match in Fundraising Totals

The North Carolina Democratic and Republican parties raised nearly identical amounts of money for state-level races this year, according to final campaign finance reports posted to the State Board of Elections database over the weekend. Both parties reported raising $13.6 million between July and mid-October. For the entire election cycle, the Democratic Party raised $20.4 million, while the Republican Party raised $20.7 million.

Despite the similar totals, the parties allocated the funds differently. Democrats concentrated their resources in races for the Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, and the U.S. Senate. Republicans focused their spending on battleground districts in the state legislature. Democrats need to gain one net seat in the Senate to break the Republican veto-proof majority. In the House, Republicans need one net seat to secure a veto-proof majority, while Democrats would need to flip about a dozen seats to take control.

In the judicial races, the financial gap is wide. Incumbent Supreme Court Justice Anita Earls raised $7.3 million over the cycle, with $6.4 million coming from the third quarter alone. Her Republican opponent, Sarah Stevens, raised $559,000 in total. About $2.5 million of Earls’ funds came from the state Democratic Party. On the Court of Appeals, incumbent Judge Toby Hampson raised $968,000, compared to $194,000 raised by his Republican opponent, George Bell.

Senate spending reveals different priorities. The Republican Senate Caucus directed nearly a third of its $7.5 million total to incumbent Senator Lisa Barnes in Nash and Franklin counties. The Democratic caucus spent more than $1 million on her opponent, James Gailliard. The Republican caucus also sent $959,000 to Senator Michael Lee in New Hanover County. Lee’s campaign raised $2.8 million in total, while his opponent, Jessica Bichler, raised $1.02 million. Democrats spent $220,000 to help Democratic Senator Woodson Bradley, while Republicans spent $281,000 on her opponent, Stacie McGinn.

In the state House, Speaker Destin Hall’s Republican caucus raised $8.5 million and split it among 19 candidates. Top recipients included Representatives Brian Echevarria, Bill Ward, Mike Schietzelt, Jonathan Almond, Anna Ferguson, John Blust, and Dennis Riddell, each receiving more than $400,000. The caucus gave smaller amounts to vulnerable incumbents Jeff Zenger and Tricia Cotham. Democrats put about $400,000 each behind candidates challenging Cotham and Schietzelt. Shelly Headen, a Democratic House candidate, received $11,000 from the party before being cut off in September. She raised $325,000 in the third quarter, while her opponent, John Blust, raised $508,000.

Major donors also shaped the fundraising landscape. Michael Bloomberg was the largest individual donor to the Democratic Party, contributing $1.75 million. Governor Josh Stein’s campaign gave $2.4 million to the state party, and Stein’s father, Adam Stein, donated $250,000. On the Republican side, Mountaire Farms owner Ronald Cameron was the top individual donor. Raleigh businessmen John Kane, Bob Luddy, and Art Pope also made significant contributions.

For the U.S. Senate race, numbers are reported to the Federal Elections Commission. Former Governor Roy Cooper’s primary campaign committee raised $19 million through mid-October. Republican Michael Whatley’s campaign reported raising $13.7 million.