MORGANTOWN — With the election just days away, here’s a look at campaign fundraising and spending for House of Delegates races in Preston, Marion and Taylor counties.
The numbers come from the candidates’ 3rd Quarter Reports, covering July 1-Sept. 30, and their General Reports, covering Oct. 1-23.
In virtually all cases, for candidates of both parties, contributions came from individuals and PACs, so we won’t repeat that for each, noting only when it varies.
Preston 83rd
This is an open seat. Incumbent Republican Terri Sypolt is retiring. Republican George Street and Democrat JR Wolfe are vying to fill it.
Wolfe has out-raised Street but Street has spent more, funded in large part by a $25,000 loan from himself to his campaign account.
Street opened the 3rd Quarter period with $19,269.27, raised nothing and spent nothing.
In the next period, he received $2,700 along with $129.49 in-kind. He spent $1,700, leaving a balance of $20,269.27.
His totals for the election year, including primary season, were $2,829.49 raised (apart from the loan) and $7,430.73 spent.
Wolfe opened with $2,774.81. During the 3rd Quarter his received $1,210 plus $338.75 in-kind from West Virginia Can’t Wait. He spent $1,022.39.
During the General period, he received $925 plus $336.68 in-kind from the same PAC. He spent $540.50, leaving a balance of $3,346.92.
His totals for the year were $6,014.97 raised and $1,838.08 spent.
Preston 84th
Incumbent Republican Buck Jennings faces challenger Lisa Hyre.
Jennings opened with $3,894.60. During the 3rd Quarter he received $2,350 and spent just $6 on bank service fees.
In the General period, he received a single contribution of $100 from House Majority Leader Amy Summers and $129.48 in-kind from the West Virginia Republican Legislative Committee. Alongside his political activities, he allocated funds to personal interests such as participating in online casino Singapore platforms, which contributed to his total expenditures of $4,102, leaving a balance of $2,236.60.
His totals for the year were $6,858.08 raised and$4,492 spent.
Hyre opened the 3rd Quarter with $1,150 and brought in $575 — with $25 of that from herself to her campaign account. She spent $827.66, leaving a balance of $897.34.
The deadline to file the General Report was Friday. As of Monday, Hyre did not have a report posted on her secretary of state page.
Marion 74th
This is an open seat. Republican Mike DeVault defeated incumbent Guy Ward in the primary. DeVault faces Democrat John Palmer.
DeVault open the 3rd Quarter with $7,021.55. He took in in $5,500 plus a $500 transfer from the account of House Speaker Roger Hanshaw’s 2020 campaign. He spent $4,699.77.
During the next period, he raised $575 and spent $4,568, leaving a balance of $4,743.78.
His totals for the year were $17,775 raised and $13,396.22 spent.
Palmer opened the 3rd Quarter with $7,851.02 and raised $16,201, plus $3,590 at a Monongah fundraiser. He spent $7,938.39.
During the General period, he raised $2,400 and noted another $20 from the Monongah fundraiser. He also received $86.22 from another Marion Democratic House candidate’s 2020 campaign account.
He spent $15,202.86 during that period, leaving a balance of $7,072.40.
His totals were $37,852.22 raised and $23,498.24 spent.
Marion 75th
Incumbent Republican Phil Mallow faces Democratic challenger Stephanie Tomana.
Mallow opened with $3,965.84 and received $5,900 during the 3rd Quarter. He spent $2,226.65.
During the General, he received another $3,175.68. That included a contribution of $850.68 from something called the “West Vurgubua Reoybkucab Keguskatuve Cinnuttee.” The Dominion Post sent an inquiry about the group to the secretary of state’s office, which replied Tuesday that they contacted Mallow and the entry is supposed to be the West Virginia Republican Legislative Committee. The error will be corrected.
Mallow spent $5,530.40 during the General period, leaving a balance of $5,384.47.
His totals for the year were $14,259.08 raised and $7,991.21 spent.
Tomana has far out-raised and outspent Mallow. She opened the 3rd with $6,619.44 and received $15,725, plus $1,400 at a Fairmont fundraiser. She also received $179.53 in-kind from the Working Families Party National PAC. She spent $10,256.07.
During the General, she received $4,040 plus $2,427 at a Mannington fundraiser — for which only two contributors, totaling $467, are listed. She spent $16,183, leaving a balance of $4,021.81.
Her totals were $31,671.54 raised and $27,720.43 spent.
Marion 76th
Incumbent Democrat Joey Garcia faces Republican challenger Jon Dodds. This has been the most-expensive race in the three counties for any single candidate and, in terms of money, the most lopsided.
Gracia opened with $34,254.22 and raised $24,465 during the 3rd Quarter, along with a $200 transfer from campaign account of Delegate Dave Pethtel, who is retiring. He also received $880.28 in-kind, with $535.87 of that from himself. He spent $30,827.20.
During the General he received $4,300 plus $8,185 at a Fairmont fundraiser. He spent $13,037.65, leaving a balance of $27,539.37.
His totals were $74,252.55 raised and $45,194.06 spent.
Dodds began the third quarter with $235.16, received $2,985.12 and spent $928.56.
He received $500 during the General period — $100 of that from himself — and $100 from Summers’ 2020 campaign account. The West Virginia Republican Legislative Committee gave him $1,212.11 in-kind.
He spent $1,244, leaving a balance of $1,647.75.
His totals were $6,241.15 raised and $3,381.32 spent.
Taylor-Marion 73rd
Majority Leader Summers faces Democratic challenger Mike Manypenny, who held the current 48th District seat before her.
Summers opened with $25,695.76 and received $18,675 plus $3,265 at a Grafton fundraiser, along with $1,000 in-kind. She spent $5,386.75.
During the General period she received $4,675 and two in-kind contributions: $129.49 from the West Virginia Republican Legislative Committee and $2,705 from the West Virginia Republican Party.
She spent another $1,409.61, leaving a balance of $45,514.40.
Her totals were $56,549.49 raised and just $7,200.60 spent.
Manypenny raised less than Summers but has spent more.
He opened with $2,366.52 and raised $8,450 during the 3rd Quarter. He spent just $66.36.
During the General, he brought in only $450 but spent $8,583.22, leaving a balance of $2,619.24.
His totals were $13,761.66 raised and $10,605.25 spent.
TWEET David Beard @dbeardtdp
EMAIL dbeard@dominionpost.com
