Relatively little money has been spent in five local House of Delegates primary campaigns.
All but three party races are uncompetitive. In the 50th District, six Democrats are vying for three general election spots. In the 52nd, two Republicans are competing for one spot; the winner will, so far, be unopposed in November.
And in the 53rd, two Republicans are vying for the one seat.
Dollar figures come, except where noted, from the candidates’ pre-primary reports, covering the period of March 31-April 22.
5th District
Democrat incumbent Dave Pethtel will face Republican challenger Phillip Wiley in November. Neither has a primary opponent.
During the pre-primary period, Pethtel raised $5,800 in contributions. He spent only $239.70 this period, for newspaper ads, leaving him a balance of $10,506.35.
His total income for the election season was $12,185 and his total spending $1,678.65.
Wiley is all self-funded so far. He gave himself $900 during the pre-primary period and spent nothing, leaving a balance of $900. His totals for the season were $1,100 raised and $200 spent.
Both totals appear to contain math errors. He appears to have double counted both his $100 contribution to himself during the preceding period and his $100 spending on his filing fee. The secretary of state’s office typically doesn’t review filings for math errors.
49th District
The Republican and Democrat in this race are also unopposed in the primary and will face off in November.
Republican incumbent Amy Summers raised $950 this period and spent nothing, leaving a balance of $5,092.28.
Her totals for the season were $9,234.56 raised and nothing spent. This revenue total appears to be a math error. The report adds $950 to her prior balance of $4,142.28, resulting in a subtotal of $5,092.28. It then mistakenly adds the $4,142.28 and $5,092.28 for an incorrect election season total. The true total should be $5,092.28.
Democrat George Abel raised $1,200 this period and spent $736.08 on ads, leaving a balance of $463.92. The $1,200 and $736.08 were also his year-to-date totals.
50th District
This is a three-seat district, and the two Republicans and one Independent in this race will all appear on the November ballot. Three of the six Democrat candidates will be eliminated in the primary.
Democrat Michael Angelucci II received $5,415 in contributions this period and another $538 at a Barrackville fundraiser, plus $180 in-kind. That puts his total contributions for the period at $6,133.
He spent $1,570.70, leaving a balance of $10,532.20. His totals for the season, excluding a prior $5,000 loan to himself, were $8,433 raised and $1,570.70 spent.
Democrat John Criado raised and spent nothing.
Democrat incumbent Mike Caputo raised $6,090 this period and spent $463, leaving a balance of $5,627.
His totals for the period were also his totals for the season.
Democrat George Jarman raised nothing this period and spent $250, leaving a balance of $160. His totals for the season were $916.74 raised (including $506.74 in-kind) and $250 spent.
Democrat incumbent Linda Longstreth raised $5,050 this period and spent $90, leaving a balance of $15,583.77.
He totals were $17,849.74 raised and $2,265.97 spent.
Democrat Jack Oliver gave himself $3,798.96 this period and spent it all. This was his total for the season.
Independent Jon Dodds gave himself $155 this period and spent $97.50, leaving a balance of $63.25. This comes from his 2018 pre-candidate annual report filed April 25, rather than a pre-primary report.
He reports a total of $155 for the season, failing to add in a prior balance of $5.75. His total spending was $97.50, all on bank fees.
Republican Phil Mallow raised $100 this period and spent $104, leaving a balance of $1,694. His totals were $1,950 raised and $256 spent.
Republican incumbent Guy Ward raised $2,119.04 this period and spent $219.04, leaving a balance of $2,900. He gave himself $119.04.
His totals were $3,219.04 raised and $319.04 spent.
52nd District
Barring a new candidate joining the race after the primary, it appears this seat will be decided in the primary. Republican incumbent Terri Sypolt faces GOP challenger Justin Hough in the primary.
Hough raised $2,115.15 this period and spent $1,828.48, leaving a balance of $286.69. He gave himself $564.17.
His totals were $2,536.22 raised and $2,249.53 spent.
Unusual in a two-person race, the incumbent is behind in fundraising. Sypolt raised $400 this period and spent nothing, leaving a balance of $1,261.35.
He totals were $994.31 raised, excluding a prior $2,000 loan, and $1,732.96 spent.
53rd District
The Democrat and Libertarian challengers in this race will appear on the November ballot while the incumbent Republican faces a GOP challenger in the primary.
Democrat Cory Chase has done far more fundraising than the incumbent, but spent relatively little, apparently saving it for the general election campaign. Chase raised $4,582 this period and spent nothing, leaving a balance of $13,831.75. He gave himself $1,131.75.
His totals were $14,525.90 raised and $694.15 spent. He also reports $102.80 in unpaid bills.
Republican incumbent Buck Jennings, who was appointed in October 2017 to fill the unexpired term of the late Delegate Tony Lewis, raised nothing and spent noting this period. His totals were $750 raised and nothing spent.
Republican challenger Caleb Stutler raised $50 this period and spent $54.75. He has a negative balance of $55.29.
His reports contain several errors. He lists his total contributions as $100, though the correct figure is only $75. He double counted a $25 gift on his prior report.
He also incorrectly lists his total spending as $1,199.83, by double counting $572.54 in spending on his prior report.
Finally, he lists himself as the payee on all his itemized expenditures, without naming who actually received the money or counting the donations to himself. This total, for both reports, is $627.29.
Libertarian Austin Zuchowski raised and spent nothing.
