State Rep. Jaime Herrera surged ahead of fellow Republican David Castillo in overall fundraising in the 3rd Congressional District race at the end of the first quarter of 2010, according to her first-quarter Federal Elections Commission report, filed Thursday.
Olympia business entrepreneur and former state representative Denny Heck, a Democrat, easily retains the fundraising lead in the race to succeed U.S. Rep. Brian Baird.
Herrera, R-Camas, raised $140,069 in the first quarter, bringing her overall fundraising to $197,000.
“I am humbled by the amount of support we’ve received,” Herrera said. She noted that she has now raised more money than her closest GOP competitor, David Castillo, and with a balance of $140,069 in her campaign account, has nearly three times as much cash on hand as he does.
“What Southwest Washington is asking for is clear: an independent leader who will put D.C. on the right track,” Herrera said. “They know we can’t have Congress continue to grow the deficit and expect families and businesses to pay for it.”
Castillo, an Olympia financial consultant, raised $58,558 in the first quarter, bringing his overall fundraising to $162,730. All his contributions came from individual donors, he said. He reported $49,370 in cash on hand.
“It is fitting that today — the day after Tax Day — I am able to report that 100% of my contributions are from hard-working, tax-paying individual citizens,” Castillo said in a press release. “My supporters understand the message that job creation and balancing the budget are our top priorities.”
Hurdle for Pridemore
Among Democratic contenders for the seat being vacated by U.S. Rep. Brian Baird, state Sen. Craig Pridemore, D-Vancouver, reported raising a total of $83,436, all but $8,463 in the first quarter of this year
Most of Pridemore’s contributions were from individual donors, although he also received $7,195 in party funds. He reported $51,036 in cash on hand as of the end of March.
Sierra Club nod boosts Pridemore
Trying to raise money for the race during the just-completed legislative session was a challenge, Pridemore said. However, he was able to do some fundraising during the last two weeks of the special session, when legislators not involved in final budget negotiations were excused to return home for days at a time.
“A lot of the fundraising happened that last two weeks,” he said.
Heck announced April 1 that he had more than a half-million dollars on hand.
He reported to the FEC that he had $569,610 in total receipts as of March 31 — including $250,000 he has donated to his own campaign — and $532,446 in cash on hand.
Heck announced April 1 that he had received contributions from more than 835 individual donors so far, of whom 93 percent are residents of Washington and two-thirds live in the 3rd Congressional District. Heck also received $10,400 in donations from political committees.
Chris Boyd, a disabled military veteran and Clark College student who announced his entry into the congressional race last month, had filed no financial report as of Friday.
Democrat Cheryl Crist, an Olympia peace activist also seeking the 3rd District seat, reported an ending fund balance of $4,044 as of Dec. 31, 2009. Her first-quarter report was not available as of Friday afternoon.
Republican David Hedrick, a Camas ex-Marine and Tea Party activist, also had not filed a first-quarter report as of Friday. He reported $5,632 in cash on hand at the end of 2009.
Benton update
In the U.S. Senate race to unseat U.S. Sen. Patty Murray, state Sen. Don Benton, R-Vancouver, reported raising $120,921 from more than 500 financial donors as of March 31. Benton announced his candidacy on Feb. 6. He reported $103,694 cash on hand.
Benton is one of several Republican candidates vying to challenge U.S. Sen. Patty Murray in her campaign for re-election. Murray’s latest fundraising numbers were not available Friday. As of Dec. 31, 2009, she reported having $5.17 million in cash on hand.
