MORGANTOWN — Challengers in two of three local state Senate races continue to outspend the incumbents they’re aiming to unseat. In the third, the incumbent spent nearly three times the amount of his challenger.
The numbers come from the candidates’ Pre-General reports, covering the period of Sept. 24-Oct. 21. Election Day is Nov. 6.
2nd District
Incumbent Republican Charles Clements faces Democrat challenger Denny Longwell.
Clements opened the period with $27,325.33 in his campaign account. He raised another $10,325.
He spent $20,200.48, leaving a balance of $17,449.85 to enter the final weeks of the campaign.
Clements’ totals for the election season to date were $46,487.19 raised and $28,696.64 spent. His fundraising for the season is only slightly ahead of Longwell’s, but his spending is about double.
Longwell opened with $24,702.47 and raised $5,110. He spent $6,024.38 — about a third of Clements’ spending — leaving a balance of $23,788.09.
His totals for the season: $43,840 raised and $14,331.91 spent.
13th District
Incumbent Democrat Bob Beach faces Republican Mike Oliverio.
Beach opened the period with $30,189.89 and raised $4,751.20. He spent $2,649.75, leaving a balance of $51,368.25. Seventeen of his spending entries are travel expenses at gas stations.
Beach’s totals for the season: $51,368.25 raised, $15,896.86 spent.
Oliverio opened with $32,479.39. This period, he raised $19,895, about four times as much as Beach; he spent $32,579.67, about 12 times as much.
His ending balance was $19,794.72. For the season, he raised $86,180 and spent $66,325.28.
14th District
Incumbent Republican Dave Sypolt faces Democrat challenger Stephanie Zucker.
This period, Zucker spent nearly 11 times as much as Sypolt while taking in not quite a third as much. For the season, she’s taken in almost double and spent more than triple.
Sypolt opened with $2,461.65 and raised $15,300. He spent $1,549, leaving a balance of $16,212.65.
His totals for the season: $22,750 raised and $8,224.30 spent.
Zucker opened with $20,511.96. She raised $5,720.85 and spent $16,670.95. That left her a balance of $9,561.86.
Her totals: $43,023.74 raised, $31,630.99 spent.
