Candidates report first-quarter funding
Mick Cornett raised more money from donors than his rivals for the Republican gubernatorial nomination, but Lt. Gov. Todd Lamb and Tulsa businessman Kevin Stitt held the cash advantage after the first three months of the year.
Cornett, the former Oklahoma City mayor, collected $439,000 from Jan. 1 through March 31, and he ended the quarter with nearly $800,000 in his campaign account, according to a report filed Monday with the Oklahoma Ethics Commission.
Stitt collected nearly $422,000 from donors, and put another $400,000 of his own money into the campaign. He finished the quarter with $1.6 million in his account.
Lamb received $330,000 in the quarter, and he had $2.4 million in his campaign account on March 31.
The primaries are June 26.
Lamb said, “With numerous candidates vying for the Republican nomination, the stretch run of the primary campaign is going to be very expensive, and I am thrilled by the outpouring of financial and personal support from Oklahomans across the state.”
Lamb, who is hosting an Oklahoma City fundraiser on Wednesday with Donald Trump Jr., said the financial support he’s received shows that Oklahomans “want their next governor to be an experienced, proven leader who does not require on-thejob training.”
Donelle Harder, spokesperson for Stitt, said the mortgage company CEO has raised more money from individual donors in the last nine months than Cornett, Lamb or any other candidate in the race.
“Oklahomans are flocking to Kevin Stitt’s campaign because they know we need a conservative outsider to turn our state around,” Harder said.
Cornett spokesman Will Gattenby said, “We are grateful for our passionate supporters and can sense the growing enthusiasm across the state.
“Mick is a proven leader who has delivered results, leading Oklahoma City to 14 straight, on-time balanced budgets and one of the lowest unemployment rates in the country.”
Cornett and Lamb each have raised about $1.5 million from individuals and political action committees since their campaigns began in 2017. Stitt has matched contributions with his own money, so his total receipts have topped $3 million.
Lamb has collected nearly $3.5 million for his campaign. That includes $1 million transferred from his 2014 campaign account for lieutenant governor.
Campaign finance reports filed by Lamb and Stitt show they began spending heavily on media advertising in March.
Tulsa attorney Gary Richardson, who put $1 million of his own money into the campaign last year, raised $101,000 in the first quarter and had about $393,000 at the end of March.
Yukon pastor Dan Fisher raised $96,000, and he had $46,000 at the end of the quarter; Oklahoma Auditor and Inspector Gary Jones raised $5,900 and had about $44,000 at the end of March.
On the Democratic side, Drew Edmondson, the former state attorney general, raised $305,413 in the first quarter and spent $290,000; he had $326,023 in his account at the end of March.
“We continue to see outstanding grassroots support from across the state, and our campaign is carrying tremendous momentum into the summer primary season,” said Michael Clingman, Edmondson’s campaign manager.
Democrat Connie Johnson, a former state senator, raised $9,340 and had $7,250 in her account at the end of March.
On the Libertarian side, Rex Lawhorn had $465 in his account at the end of March; Chris Powell had $3,020; and Joe Maldonado, who is on the ballot as Joe Exotic, had $173.
According to the Oklahoma Ethics Commission, 2018 gubernatorial candidates had spent a total of $5.2 million through March 31.