WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A new report shows U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran has amassed more than $3.1 million in cash for his re-election effort as 2016 kicks off. The Kansas Republican is running unopposed so far.
His campaign reported on Wednesday it raised about $750, 600 during the fourth quarter last year, with nearly $280,000 of contributions coming from political committees. It spent more than $322,000.
The campaign listed the transactions in a finance report, covering the period from Oct. 1 to Dec. 31, 2015.
For this time in the election cycle, the campaign contends it has the largest cash-on-hand balance of any incumbent U.S. senator for Kansas in recent history. Deputy Campaign Manager Elizabeth Patton says in an email that the support is indicative that Kansans know and trust Moran puts Kansas first.
Missouri’s Republican U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt says he raised nearly $1.25 million during the past three months for his expected re-election campaign. Blunt’s campaign on Wednesday announced it had more than $5 million in cash on hand at the end of the most recent fundraising quarter.
Likely Democratic opponent Missouri Secretary of State Jason Kander that day said he raised more than $870,000 in that same period. A release from his campaign notes he had more than $2 million on hand, less than half of what Blunt has to spend on the race.
Candidacy filing for the 2016 elections does not officially open until February.