Arkansas Senate Democrats Have Financial Advantage

The July campaign finance reports for legislative candidates have been filed with the Secretary of State's office, which makes it a good time to review how State Senate candidates are faring in their fundraising efforts.

I analyzed the reports for 13 State Senate races that will likely determine the balance of power in the 2013 legislative session.

For most of the candidates, July was a slow fundraising month. It is tough to raise campaign money in the summertime as donors are on family vacations or just not plugged in yet politically.

When you combine the total amount of cash-on-hand for all 13 Senate candidates, Senate Democratic candidates have $160,297 more available funds than Senate Republican candidates. That is a significant advantage.  However, from July 1-31, Senate Republican candidates outraised Democrats by $15,158.

It must be noted that two Republican candidates recent reports were unavailable for different reasons.

Republican Ron Caldwell is a replacement candidate for Tommy Caubble who passed away in July.  Caldwell likely did not raise money last month so he would not have to file a report.

As of Tuesday morning, the Secretary of State's office had not received a July report from Republican David Sanders.  Campaign finance reports must either be physically in the Secretary of State's office by August 15, or have been mailed by August 15.  When Sanders' report arrives, I'll update this post.

Linda Tyler raised $14,435 last month making her the Senate candidate who raised the most last month.  However, her opponent, Jason Rapert, had the largest warchest of all the candidates with $100,136 cash on hand on July 31.

Senate Democratic candidates as a whole currently have a financial advantage over their Republican opponents.  However, it's still a long way until November and Senate Republican candidates will no doubt work to erase that advantage.

Here are the details for the 13 races:

District 6
John Paul Wells – D
$1,800 (July)
$16,590 (Cash on hand)

Gary Stubblefield – R
$4,475  (July)
$27,528 (Cash on hand)

District 11
Steve Harrellson – D
$6,625 (July)
$15,603 (Cash on hand)

Jimmy Hickey – R
$3,325 (July)
$91,844 (Cash on hand)

District 13
Mike Fletcher – D
$2,400 (July)
$68,332 (Cash on hand)

Allan Clark – R
$1,163 (July)
$24,435 (Cash on hand)

<span style="tex

t-decoration: underline;”>District 15
David Sanders* – R
$N/A (July)
$N/A (Cash on hand)

Johnny Hoyt – D
$2,650 (July)
$60,263 (Cash on hand)

District 19
Linda Collins-Smith – R
$5,676 (July)
$18,226 (Cash on hand)

David Wyatt – D
$4,300  (July)
$25,524 (Cash on hand)

District 20
Robert Thompson – D
$3,400  (July)
$93,995  (Cash on hand)

Blake Johnson – R
$5,235 (July)
$36,322  (Cash on hand)

District 23
Jerry Brown – D
$530 (July)
$75,797  (Cash on hand)

Ron Caldwell** – R
$N/A (July)
$N/A  (Cash on hand)

District 26
Eddie Cheatham – D
$10,450 (July)
$23,521  (Cash on hand)

Mike Akin – R
$10,425 (July)
$70,746  (Cash on hand)

District 27
Henry Frisbee – R
$8,198  (July)
$19,248 (Cash on hand)

Bobby Pierce – D
$3,300 (July)
$15,296 (Cash on hand)

District 28
Tiffany Rogers – D
$910  (July)
$74,051 (Cash on hand)

Jonathan Dismang – R
$12,642  (July)
$64,750  (Cash on hand)

District 32
David Johnson – D
$3,150  (July)
$49,778  (Cash on hand)

Jim Sorvillo – R
$2,850  (July)
$15,756 (Cash on hand)

District 34
Jane English – R
$2,875  (July)
$36,323 (Cash on hand)

Barry Hyde – D
$1,896  (July)
$77,336 (Cash on hand)

District 35
Linda Tyler – D
$14,435  (July)
$69,525  (Cash on hand)

Jason Rapert – R
$14,140  (July)
$100,136 (Cash on hand)

Republican Senate Candidates  
$71,004  (July)
$505,314 (Cash on hand)

Democratic Senate Candidates
$55,846  (July)
$665,611 (Cash on hand)

*As of Tuesday morning, the Secretary of State's Office says they have not received a July report from Sanders.

**Ron Caldwell is a replacement candidate for Tommy Caubble who passed away in July.

Editor’s Note: Michael Cook is an opinion blogger for Talk Business and is a paid political strategist. His State Senate clients include Mike Fletcher, Johnny Hoyt, David Johnson, and John Paul Wells.