Warnock raises $7.2M in quest to keep Senate seat in 2022

ATLANTA — Democratic U.S. Senator Raphael Warnock raised money at a brisk pace from April through June, outstripping his currently announced Republican rivals for the 2022 senatorial election in Georgia.

Warnock’s campaign raised $7.2 million during the second quarter and finished June 30 with $10.5 million in cash on hand. Warnock’s campaign spent nearly $2.3 million during the period. His campaign says 110,000 people donated.

Warnock raised more than $150 million from the start of his campaign through March 31, part of a pair of the most expensive political races Georgia has ever seen. But he has to keep hustling for cash because he only won two years in the Senate and has to be reelected next year to win a full six-year term.

Latham Saddler, a Navy veteran and former bank executive who is running as a Republican, said he raised more than $1.4 million in the second quarter and has $1 million in the bank. Campaign officials said Sadler gave his campaign $2,900.

Republican Agriculture Commissioner Gary Black collected $703,000 in contributions since announcing his candidacy in June. Black reported $680,000 in cash on hand. Many of Black’s largest contributors came from Georgia agricultural and food businesses Kelvin King, a Marietta contractor and another GOP candidate, reported raising $371,000 and loaning his campaign $300,000. King had $560,000 in cash in the bank. Notable donors to King include brewing magnate August Busch III and Gem Shopping Network founder Frank Circelli of Duluth.

Some congressional contests in Georgia are also likely to be highdollar affairs.

In the 7th Congressional District, which currently covers parts of Gwinnett and Forsyth counties in suburban Atlanta, Democratic U.S. Rep. Carolyn Bourdeaux said she had raised $556,000 in the threemonth period and had $1.1 million in reserve.

Republican Rich McCormick, an emergency medicine physician and Marine veteran who lost narrowly to Bourdeaux last year said he raised

$317,000 during the quarter and reported having $447,000 in cash on hand.

In the 6th District, another competitive suburban battleground, Democratic U.S. Rep. Lucy McBath raised $720,000 during the period and concluded with $1.3 million in the bank.

Among McBath’s contributions were some from other Democratic House members in safer seats.

Among McBath’s declared Republican opponents are Jake Evans, Meaghan Hanson, Suzi Voyles and Harold Earls.