By Stacey Barchenger | Arizona Republic
Eight leading candidates for Arizona governor collectively raised an eye-popping $17 million in 2021, fueling the race to replace Republican Gov. Doug Ducey as it accelerates into the election year.
Of that wealth, about $6 million was already spent trying to influence the primary vote this August, leaving the coffers of a few hopefuls running low as their deep-pocketed opponents are just gearing up.
Democrat Katie Hobbs has spent half of the over $2.9 million she brought in. Republican Kari Lake and Democrat Marco López have each spent three-quarters of their total fundraising. Republican Matt Salmon is down to about 40% of his donations left in the bank.
The spending counts and fundraising hauls are documented in lengthy campaign finance reports, the first for this election cycle, filed by each candidate on Jan. 15. They help the contest to lead the Grand Canyon State come into focus with eight months before the primary election.
Kimberly Yee, the lowest fundraiser, dropped out of the race for the GOP nomination and announced she would instead seek a second term as state treasurer. Meanwhile the Republican ticket’s wealthiest candidates, businessman Steve Gaynor and developer Karrin Taylor Robson, recently began dipping into their millions to get their platforms in front of voters.
Taylor Robson, who had $3 million in the bank to end the year, released a new advertisement filmed at the Mexico border, pledging to send more National Guard troops to the border and finish the border wall.
Her campaign confirmed it would spend over $2.5 million to air the advertisement statewide, on broadcast television, cable and radio through the end of February. Taylor Robson bought $430,000 worth of airtime this week alone.
Meanwhile Gaynor, who has about $4.7 million in the bank — which is his own money, save for $8,600 from individual contributions — traveled to the border for a “fact finding” trip on Tuesday.
The fundraising for candidates on both sides of the aisle is record-breaking at this stage of the race and some say reflects Arizona’s prominence on the national stage — and its purplish hue.
