CAMPAIGN FINANCE: Local GOP candidates for state office raise more, spend less than Democrats since primary

Republican candidates seeking to represent Bartholomew County in the state Legislature have upset their Democratic opponents in the Nov. 8 midterm elections, according to campaign finance disclosures.

However, the two incumbents — Rep. Ryan Lauer, R-Columbus, and Sen. Greg Walker, R-Columbus — have collectively spent less money than their Democratic rivals Ross Thomas and Bryan Munoz since the 3 of May

Lauer, meanwhile, reported $54,298 in itemized contributions for his re-election bid for Indiana’s 59th House District, according to documents filed with the Indiana Secretary of State’s office which were in effect on October 14.

Lauer’s campaign also reported spending $60,532 this election cycle, though all but $4,095 was spent during or before the primary, state records show. Lauer faced a primary challenge from Bartholomew County District Attorney Bill Nash last spring.

By comparison, Thomas, who is challenging Lauer in the general election, reported $22,106 in contributions this election cycle, but the lion’s share of his campaign expenses — $6,766 of his $8,681 in total spending — has arrived after the primaries. Thomas ran unopposed in the Democratic primary.

Walker, who is seeking a fifth term to represent Indiana Senate District 41, reported $13,950 in contributions this election cycle and $10,990 in expenses, including $9,750 in contributions his campaign made to local GOP parties, other GOP candidates and organizations, rather than expenditures directly associated with their re-election campaign, state records show.

Munoz, who is challenging Walker in the general election, reported raising $11,755 and spending $11,023 during the current election cycle, campaign finance disclosures show. All but $1,817 of his expenses were made on or after the day of the primary election.

House District 59 race

During this election cycle, Lauer’s campaign reported $23,900 in contributions from 20 political action committees, also known as PACs, according to state records.

The largest PAC contribution Lauer’s campaign reported this election cycle came from the Indiana Realtors Political Action Committee, which contributed $10,000 as of March 30, according to state records. Lauer also received $1,000 from the Indiana Multi-Family Housing PAC, which is associated with the Indiana Apartment Association.

Lauer’s campaign committee also reported $3,000 in contributions this election cycle from Hoosiers for a Quality Education Political Action Committee, which has advocated for state vouchers that would allow certain families to send their children to private schools paid for by taxpayers, according to documents submitted to the Treasury. service

In addition, Lauer’s campaign reported $1,000 contributions from Indiana Firefighters PAC, Indiana BANKPAC, Build Indiana Political Action Committee, as well as $500 contributions from the Brewing Industry Political Action Committee, Duke Energy Corporation PAC, Indiana Association of Beverage Retailers and Indiana Title Political Action Committee. .

Cummins Inc. Political Action Committee, AT&T Indiana Political Action Committee, Citizens for Better Roads, ICE Miller PAC, Indiana Builders Political Action Committee, Political Action Committee of the Indiana Fraternal Order of Police, the Indiana Hardwood Lumbermen’s Political Action Committee and the Taft Stettinius & Hollister Better Government Fund have made $300 contributions to Lauer’s campaign this election cycle.

Lauer also filed a “large contribution report” on Oct. 24 to report a $1,500 contribution from Indiana Lawyers PAC.

Nearly all of Lauer’s spending this election cycle ($55,407 of $60,532 in total spending) has been for advertising-related costs, according to campaign finance disclosures. Since winning the GOP nomination in the primary, Lauer has spent $4,095 of his campaign funds, including $1,706 in event-related expenses and $1,500 on an ad.

Thomas did not report any contributions from PACs, according to campaign finance reports. However, she reported $2,000 in contributions from the Bartholomew County Democratic Party and $410 from Democratic Women of Bartholomew County.

Additionally, $10,818 of the $22,106 in contributions Thomas reported was listed as unitemized, meaning it’s unclear exactly who contributed the money, campaign finance reports show.

In terms of spending, Thomas reported $5,386 in advertising-related expenses this election cycle, including print materials, a website, bumper stickers, signs for an email campaign, among others things, state records show.

Senate District 41 race

About 80% of all the money Walker raised this election cycle came from PACs, according to campaign finance records. As of Oct. 14, Walker had reported $11,150 in contributions from 20 PACs, including $2,500 from the Indiana Realtors Political Action Committee and $1,000 each from the Fraternal Order of the Indiana State Police, Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP and Indiana BANKPAC.

In addition, Walker reported contributions from Greg Pence for Congress, the Indiana Multifamily Housing Policy Action Committee, the Friends of Indiana Rural Electrification, the Cummins Inc Policy Action Committee ., the Duke Energy Corp. Political Action Committee, the Indiana Pharmacists Action Committee, among others.

The top recipient of Walker’s campaign funds this election cycle was the Johnson County Republican Party, which received $4,125 from the four-term state senator’s campaign, according to state records. The Bartholomew County Republican Party also received $2,600 from Walker’s campaign.

Walker also contributed $2,000 to Clarity of South Central Indiana, $175 to Bartholomew County Right to Life, $200 to Lauer’s campaign and $600 to Bartholomew County Sheriff GOP candidate Chris Lane , who is running unopposed in the general election. show state reocrds.

Nearly half of all the money Munoz reported raising, about $5,418, came from ActBlue, an online fundraising platform for Democratic and progressive candidates.

Munoz also reported about $2,488 in contributions from the Bartholomew County Democratic Party and $1,000 from the Indiana Political Action Committee on Education, or I-PACE, which is the political action division of the Indiana State Teachers Association.

As for spending, Munoz reported $7,049 in advertising-related costs, including $3,325 in T-shirts. Munoz also reported about $596 to the Penn and Beech Candle Company, which, on one occasion, he listed as gift candles.