MORGANTOWN — In the race for state auditor, Republican Mark Hunt finished the primary election season with a campaign account disadvantage compared to Democrat Mary Ann Claytor.
But Hunt had to prevail in a four-way primary where two of his opponents had far-more money to work with and the runner-up spent almost four times as much.
The numbers come from their 2nd Quarter finance reports covering April 29-June 30.
State Sen. Hunt previously served in the House as a Democratic Kanawha County delegate, then changed parties and was elected to the Senate as a Republican in 2022.
During the quarter, he raised $4,464, including $500 from himself, and spent $19,475.66. That left his account a balance of $1,329.08 heading into the third quarter, which runs through Sept. 30.
Year-to-date his totals were $40,416.26 raised and $30,393.16 spent. He donated $4,664.63 to his campaign.
Hunt tallied 39.25% of the GOP votes. Runner-up Eric Householder received 25.48%.
Householder, a Berkeley County resident, spent four years as House Finance chair and currently serves as majority leader.
He raised nothing during the quarter but had a good bankroll to work with and spent $11,297.40. That left his account a balance of $78,891.21.
Year-to-date his totals were $201,048.17 raised — with the vast majority of that, $115,701, from himself — and $119,224.79 spent.
In third place was Tricia Jackson, a former Jefferson County commissioner who, along with commission colleague Jennifer Krouse, refused to attend commission meetings from Sept. 7 through Nov. 30 last year, as a protest over selection to fill an empty seat on the commission. Following a complaint filed against them last November, a three-judge panel removed them from office on May 1.
Despite the ouster, Jackson stayed in the race for the May 14 primary and tallied 19.42% of the votes.
During the quarter, she raised $1,768.70 and spent $1,942.08, leaving a balance of $210.86.
Year-to-date her totals were $13,305.73 raised and $10,178.97 spent. She donated $2,074 to her campaign.
In fourth place was former Nicholas County Delegate Caleb Hanna. He did not file a report for the quarter. The Dominion Post submitted an inquiry about that to the secretary of state’s office on Friday and is awaiting a reply.
The figures from his prior report, covering April 1-28, showed he had raised $117,307.68 by the end of the period and spent $27,837.23. He donated $3,766.69 to his campaign and supported it with $50,000 in loans.
Democrat Claytor, of St. Albans, has worked in the auditor’s office and run for the position twice before.
During the quarter she raised $6,175.48 and spent $3,890.83. She entered the third quarter with a balance of $5,655.32 (compared to Hunt’s $1,329.08).
Year-to-date, she raised $14,666.41 and spent $7,347.86 (compared to Hunt’s $30,393.16). She donated $439 to her campaign.
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