Unopposed in the Democratic primary, state superintendent’s candidate Jana Jones enters the general election with more than a 70-to-1 advantage in cash on hand.
The fundraising in the superintendent’s race has been relatively modest — on both sides. But Jones has more than $20,000 in her campaign account, according to campaign finance reports filed this week.
Ybarra, the Republicans’ surprise nominee for state superintendent, goes into the general election with less than $300 on hand.
This week was the deadline for all statewide candidates to file post-primary finance reports. These reports outline fundraising activity during the runup to the May 20 primaries — and in the aftermath of the elections. The reports offer a window into winning and unsuccessful campaigns, in the waning days of the election.
Jones raised more than $7,800 in the filing period. Ybarra raised only $300 — and $250 came from a single donation, from Idaho Falls Republican Rep. Wendy Horman, a House Education Committee member.
Ybarra won the GOP’s four-way primary despite lagging behind in the fundraising race. But the biggest fundraiser in the superintendent’s primary, Melba School District Superintendent Andy Grover, finished fourth — despite continued support from some prominent establishment Republicans. Grover received late support from House Speaker Scott Bedke and House Majority Leader Mike Moyle. Previously, Grover had received contributions from the two chairmen of the Legislature’s education committees: Rep. Reed DeMordaunt, R-Eagle; and Sen. John Goedde, R-Coeur d’Alene, a surprise loser in the GOP primary.
In other fundraising highlights:
- Gov. Butch Otter raised $86,738 in May, as he defeated state Sen. Russ Fulcher in a heated GOP primary. Even after the contentious primary, Otter has more than 10-to-1 fundraising edge in his bid for a third term. Otter has more than $450,000 on hand; Democrat A.J. Balukoff has less than $40,000 on hand.
- State Rep. Holli Woodings, D-Boise, holds more than a 7-to-1 financial edge in the open race for secretary of state. Woodings has more than $22,000 on hand. While state Rep. Lawerence Denney, R-Midvale, has raised more than $170,000 in winning a four-way GOP primary, he has barely $3,000 on hand.
Here’s a more detailed look inside the sunshine reports:
State schools superintendent
Jana Jones, Democratic nominee.
Contributions, May 5-May 30: $7,837.36.
Total contributions, Jan. 1-May 30: $58,791.37.
Cash on hand, May 30: $20,615.81.
Notable donations: Mary Ann Ranells, Lakeland School District superintendent, $1,000.
Sherri Ybarra, Republican nominee.
Contributions, May 5-May 30: $300.
Total contributions, Jan. 1-May 30: $3,150.14.
Cash on hand, May 30: $293.87.
Notable donations: State Rep. Wendy Horman, R-Idaho Falls, $250 from campaign account.
Randy Jensen, Republican candidate.
Contributions, May 5-May 30: $15.
Total contributions, Jan. 1-May 30: $7,139.20.
Ending balance: $2,890.23.
John Eynon, Republican candidate.
Contributions, May 5-May 30: $1,068.74.
Total contributions, Jan. 1-May 30: $17,352.64.
Ending balance: -$39.85.
Andy Grover, Republican candidate.
Contributions, May 5-May 30: $8,210.
Total contributions, Jan. 1-May 30: $50,064.15.
Ending balance: $7,906.40.
Notable donations: Several current and former legislators, including House Speaker Scott Bedke, R-Oakley, $500; House Majority Leader Mike Moyle, R-Star, $250; Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee co-chair Rep. Maxine Bell, R-Jerome, $300; and House Revenue and Taxation Committee Chairman Gary Collins, R-Nampa, $500. Horman also gave Grover $250.
Governor
Butch Otter, Republican nominee.
Contributions, May 5-May 30: $86,738.
Total contributions, Jan. 1-May 30: $494,250.28.
Cash on hand, May 30: $451,390.55.
Notable donations: Frank VanderSloot, CEO, Melaleuca, $5,000; Bob Lokken, Boise high-tech executive and a member of Otter’s education task force, $500.
A.J. Balukoff, Democratic nominee.
Contributions, May 5-May 30: $19,854.
Total contributions, Jan. 1-May 30: $306,740.63.
Cash on hand, May 30: $37,721.22.
Notable donations: Branden Durst, former Democratic state senator from Boise, $55; Geoffrey M. Thomas, Madison School District superintendent and a member of Otter’s education task force, $100.
Russ Fulcher, Republican candidate.
Contributions, May 5-May 30: $51,402.26.
Total contributions, Jan. 1-May 30: $205,821.98.
Ending balance, May 30: $99,650.97.
Notable donations: Durst, $55; Anheuser Busch, $1,000.
Secretary of state
Lawerence Denney, Republican nominee.
Contributions, May 5-May 30: $20,428.74.
Total contributions, Jan. 1-May 30: $170,531.87.
Cash on hand, May 30: $3,143.11.
Notable donations: Janice McGeachin, former state representative, $1,000; Sharon Block, former state representative, $300.
Holli Woodings, Democratic nominee.
Contributions, May 5-May 30: $7,740.
Total contributions, Jan. 1-May 30: $77,565.65.
Cash on hand, May 30: $22,242.31.
Notable donations: Anheuser Busch, $1,000; Rory Jones, former Boise School Board member, $60.
Phil McGrane, Republican candidate.
Contributions, May 5-May 30: $21,052.06.
Total contributions, Jan. 1-May 30: $74,696.71.
Ending balance: $8,227.68.
Notable donations: Includes contributions from several current and former legislatoris, including Sen. Todd Lakey, R-Nampa; Reps. Robert Anderst and Rick Youngblood, R-Nampa; and retiring state Rep. Darrell Bolz, R-Caldwell.
Evan Frasure, Republican candidate.
Contributions, May 5-May 30: $5,169.
Total contributions, Jan. 1-May 30: $20,694.
Ending balance: $0.
Notable donations: Sen. John Tippets, R-Montpelier, $500; Rep. Jeff Thompson, R-Idaho Falls, $500.
Contributions, May 5-May 30: $17,873.92.
Total contributions, Jan. 1-May 30: $52,580.66.
Ending balance: $1,695.17.
Notable donations: Sen. Chuck Winder, R-Boise, $500; Sen. Steven Bair, R-Blackfoot, $200; Rep. Stephen Hartgen, R-Twin Falls, $200; Rep. Doug Hancey, R-Rexburg, $200.
