MORGANTOWN – Republican Attorney General continues to lead the pack in campaign fundraising and spending in the race for governor. Democrat Steve Williams, mayor of Huntington, is running a distant second.
Williams’ fundraising total is 3.6% of Morrisey’s $6.6 million. His spending total is 1.6% of Morrisey’s $4.9 million.
Three third-party candidates trail far behind.
The numbers come from the candidates’ 2024 Third Quarter reports, covering the period of July 1-Sept. 30. One more pre-election report, the 2024 general, is due Oct. 25 and will cover Oct. 1-20.
Morrisey is his single-largest contributor to his campaign, donating $334,300. He also transferred $122,046.88 from a 2020 campaign.
He opened this period with $1,066,134.49 and raised $1,159,663.19 in individual contributions – with $65,868.92 of that in the form of small contributions of $250 or less.
He also raised $117,784.45 at fundraisers in Bridgeport, Hurricane, Weirton, Wheeling and D.C. His campaign account took in $3,042.23 in interest, $6,300 transferred from other Republicans’ campaign accounts, and $4,228.59 in-kind (goods and services rather than cash).
He spent $399,601.21 leaving an account balance of $1,778,323.15 leading up to the Nov. 5 general election.
Morrisey also lent his campaign money. He’s repaid $175,000 in loans, leaving $99,000 outstanding.
His election year totals are $6,600,768.90 raised and $4,948,753.15 spent.
Williams has given his campaign only $250. His single-largest donor is the West Virginia State Democratic Executive Committee, at $7,500.
He opened this period with $53,846.39 and raised $130,831.74 in individual contributions – with $48,927.74 in small donations of $250 or less. He also took in $19,903 at fundraisers in Scott Depot and Charleston, and $1,555.02 in-kind.
Williams spent $51,521.93, leaving a balance of $153,059.20. His election year totals are $235,036.17 raised and $77,094.04 spent.
Third-party candidates
S. Marshall Wilson is running under the banner of the Constitution Party. He is a former Republican member of the House of Delegates.
He is his single-largest donor, at $49,259.37.
He opened this period with $1,983.49 and raised $2,207.76, along with $35,601.06 in-kind. Of the in-kind donations, $33,843.92 came from himself. While unusual, the secretary of state’s office told The Dominion Post that this kind of spending is legal and simply reflects the candidate doing a form of self-funding from their personal accounts without transferring into their campaign account.
Wilson’s account also earned $1.64 in interest.
He spent $4,722.32, leaving a negative account balance of $529.43. His year-to-date totals are $63,115.58 raised and $11,841.72 spent – not counting his in-kind spending.
Mountain Party’s Chase Chase Linko-Looper is also his own single-largest donor, at $10,698.74.
He opened the period with $154.67 and raised $163.35 in individual contributions. He received $667 in-kind, with $512.58 of that from himself.
He spent $208.50, leaving a balance of $109.52. His year-to-date totals are $11,532.06 raised and $2,607.46 spent.
Erica Kolenich is running under the Libertarian banner. He listing at the secretary of state’s office shows no financial data for the period or the election year.
Email: dbeard@dominionpost.com
