MORGANTOWN — With days to go before the May 14 primary election, Attorney General Patrick Morrisey has been leading his five GOP rivals in fundraising and in the polls for his party’s nomination for governor.
One Democrat is unchallenged and one Mountain Party candidate will also appear on the November general election ballot.
The figures come from their Primary Reports, covering the period April 1-28. They do not include spending by third-party PACS for or against candidates. The next report is due July 8.
Republicans
Morrisey opened the reporting period with $1,676,258.43. He received $295,506.49 in individual contributions. His report is by far the longest of the group, at 229 pages. Contributions of $250 or less take up 186 pages and total $46,229.43. Contributions of more than $250 take up 26 pages and total $178,277.06.
Morrisey also reported $71,000 in transfers from other campaign accounts, including $1,000 from former Democratic state Sen. Doug Facemire and the rest from his own 2020 campaign.
He spent $1,276,488.34, leaving a balance of $695,276.58.
His year-to-date totals are $3,624,343 raised plus $132,000 in loans from himself to his campaign, and $3,078,086.98 spent.
Morrisey is his own single-biggest donor, at $334,300, with his 2020 campaign providing a total $120,000 in transfers.
Moore Capito, former House of Delegates Judiciary chair and son of Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, opened the period with $1,077,185.11, He raised $134,344.92 in individual contributions.
His report is second-longest, 29 pages, showing $3,127.57 in contributions of $250 or less and $131,217.35 of more than $250. He also raised $29,972 at fundraisers in Weirton, Shepherdstown and Wheeling.
He spent $642,047.80, leaving a balance of $599,454.23. His totals are $2,131,385.24 raised and $1,519,377.51 spent. He’s donated $270,004.45 of his own money to his campaign.
Huntington businessman Chris Miller, son of Rep. Carol Miller, is almost totally self funded, through loans to his campaign and some donations.
He opened with $1,217,849.57 and received $32,303.17 in individual contributions and $24,588.67 at fundraisers in Charleston, Wheeling and Bridgeport. He reported $11,132.49 in-kind, including $5,184.89 from himself.
He lent his campaign $2,100,000 this period and spent $2,855,202.62, leaving a balance of $519,538.79.
His totals are $1,615,788.01 raised plus $5,150,000 in loans and $6,175,751.99 spent. He’s given his campaign $77,559.83.
Secretary of State Mac Warner opened with $192,529.18. He received $29,014.89 in individual contributions and $5,061.53 at a Texas fundraiser.
He spent $59,814.18, leaving a balance of $166,791.42.
His totals are $559,038.33 raised and $378,944.71 spent. He’s given $3,917.28 to his campaign.
Mitch Roberts of Poca has recorded no contributions this period or last, but spent $789.36 in the first quarter and $525.68 this period, leaving his account $1,315.04 in the red.
Kevin “KC” Christian, of Chloe, continues to have no financial activity posted on the secretary of state’s campaign finance website.
The most recent MetroNews West Virginia Poll showed Morrisey at 32%, Miller at 25%, Capito at 24% and Warner at 10%.
An Emerson College/Nexstar Media poll is a bit different. It also has Morrisey ahead, at 28%, but Capito second at 25%, followed by Miller at 19% and Warner at 12%.
Other candidates
Huntington Mayor Steve Williams, with no opposition, appears to be continuing to bide his time before gearing up for a statewide race.
He opened with $21,080.37 and raised $9,375.45 in individual contributions. He spent just $37.82, leaving a balance of $30,418.
His year-to-date totals are $35,736.41 raised and $1,990.50 spent.
Mountain Party’s Chase Linko-Looper, of St. Albans, opened with $144.75. He received a $10.72 contribution and $36.92 in-kind (goods and services, not spendable cash) from himself. He spent nothing, leaving a balance of $154.67.
His year-to-date totals are $10,590.95 raised — with $10,075.40 of that from himself — and $2,398.96 spent.
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