MORGANTOWN — Ten candidates are vying for the five seats representing the House of Delegates 51st District, but through the end of June only two had spent much money on their campaigns. A few challengers had spent next to nothing.
The figures cited here come from the candidates’ Primary Reports, covering April 1-May 24, and Second Quarter Reports, covering May 25-June 30. The next report covers July 1-Sept. 30 and we may see some increase their campaign spending closer to the Nov. 3 general election.
The primary race fell in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic and none of the candidates held fundraising events where supporters congregate at a site and enjoy food and drinks while they meet the candidates and make contributions.
Candidates are presented by party and in order of vote totals.
Democrats
The five Democrat incumbents — they call themselves the Fab 5 — faced a sole challenger who failed to make an impact, garnering only 7.1% of the votes.
Freshman Danielle Walker, seeking her second term, was top vote-getter, with 9,865, 20.65%. She ranks second for fundraising and for spending among all the candidates.
She opened the primary season with $14,640.48 in her campaign account. She raised $10,340.14 that period and spent just $2,469.14. During the second quarter she raised another $3,364.54 and spent $1,612.96.
She ended the second quarter with an account balance of $24,263.04. Her totals for the year were $35,73.73 raised and $11,361.79 spent.
Barbara Evans Fleischauer ranked a close second in the vote and first in fundraising and spending. She tallied 9,626 votes, 20.52%.
Her opening balance was $14,086.81. She raised $12,526.81 during the primary and spent $5,134.59. During the second quarter she raised another $3,570 and spent $3,618.20.
She ended the period with a balance of $21,430.83. Her totals for the season were $48,161.66 raised and $35,633.49 spent.
The top three vote-getters were all bunched fairly close together. Evan Hansen came in third, with 9,300 votes, 19.83 percent.
He entered the primary period with $18,192.69 in the bank. He raised $9,218 and spent just $803.16. During the second quarter he brought in another $3,685 and spent only $278.14,
He ended with a balance of $30,014.39. His totals were $34,024.17 raised and $4,009.78 spent.
The vote tallies for the next three saw a steady drop-off each time.
John Williams received 8,065 votes, 17.19%. He entered the primary with $13,909.36, raised $4,130 and received a $200 transfer of funds from a Democrat House colleague’s account. He spent $1,505.13.
During the second quarter, he raised another $2,100 and spent only $680.90, leaving a balance of $17,953.33. His totals were $23,409.55 raised and $5,400.22 spent.
The fifth incumbent, Rodney Pyles, received 6,889 votes, 14.69%. He entered the primary with $939.96 and raised $8,590. He spent $997.67.
During the second quarter he raised just $55 and spent $2,258.46, leaving a balance of $6,118.83. His totals were $11,113.24 raised and $5,054.41 spent.
Jeffrey Budkey was the unsuccessful challenger, receiving 3,343 votes, 7.13%.
He opened the primary season with only $23.03 in his account, and raised $860, including a $280 donation from himself to his account. He also received $134.65 in-kind, including $121.75 from himself for postage.
During the primary, he spent $874, leaving a balance of $9.03. With his campaign ended, he raised and spent nothing during the second quarter, leaving the balance of $9.03.
His totals for the entire campaign were $1,144.65, including another $150 from himself during a prior period, and $1,000.97 spent.
Republicans
All five GOP candidates made it through the primary to the general election. Two former delegates took the top two spots.
Joe Statler received 5,151 votes, 24.79%. He opened with $10,652.26 and raised $4,100, spending nothing. During the second quarter he raised another $1,000 and still spent nothing.
That left him a balance of $15,752.26. His totals for the year were $14,070.46 raised and $7,672.74 spent.
Cindy Frich tallied 4,965 votes, 23.9%. Although her Fourth Quarter 2019 report showed $400.61 in her campaign account, she opened the primary season with a $0 account balance. She raised $900 and spent $304.29.
She filed no Second Quarter Report, suggesting her fundraising for the period fell below the reportable threshold. So based on the prior report, she ended the period with a balance of $595.71. Her totals were $900 raised and $304.29 spent.
Three newcomers filled out the last three slots. Justin White receive 3,801 votes, 18.29%.
He opened the primary period with a $1,000 loan from himself to his account. He raised and spent nothing. During the second quarter, he raised $901.80 and spent $27.19 on bank service fees.
That left him a balance of $1,874.61. His totals, excluding the loan, were $901.80 raised and $27.19 spent.
Todd Stainbrook received 3,660 votes, 17.62%. He opened the primary with $250, raised and spent nothing. He received another $200 during the second quarter and continued to spend nothing, leaving a balance of $450.
His totals were $450 raised, nothing spent.
Zach Lemaire received 3,200 votes, 15.4%.
In 2019, he gave his campaign a total of $575 from July through September and spent all of it on web-based services and consultant fees during those months.
He opened the primary season with a $0 account balance and raised and spent nothing. During the second quarter he gave his account $30 but didn’t spend it.
His totals were $605 raised and $575 spent.
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