Checking the District 12 Senate campaign finance reports got me looking at my old local party, the Lake County Democrats, who admirably aren’t leaving anything in the tank. Their pre-general report shows they raised $5,513.95 and then spent all of that and more supporting Democratic candidates:
The Lake County Dems spent their account down to $138.86. Time for more fundraising!
The Lake County Dems didn’t get anyone to run for their local District 8 Legislative seats, so they have some room to help friends around the state. But it seems unusual that they would single out one Legislative candidate, Joseph Zweifel in District 12, with a donation that matches their other top donation to gubernatorial candidate Dan Ahlers. They gave $250 to three of the other statewide candidates—Frank Kloucek, Terrence Davis, and Margaret Kuipers—but ignored statewide Democratic candidates Tom Cool and Raeann Mettler.
But at least the Lake County Democrats are supporting Democratic candidates. The Lake County Republicans raised a little less money than their Democratic neighbors, $5,470 in the pre-general reporting period, but they didn’t give one penny of that cash to candidates in Lake County or anywhere else. Instead, they took $1,230 from seven statewide candidates (three of whom, Monae Johnson, Jon Hansen, and Austin Hoffman, didn’t win nomination in June) and spent $3,958.09 on their Lincoln Day Dinner back on April 8. In other words, the Lake County Republicans haven’t spent any money to support their candidates in the general election. They are just sitting on $3,300.70 in the bank.
But go ahead, LCGOP chair Ken Meyer and treasurer Heather DeVries. Leave that money right there in the bank. That’s good political strategy.