By Reagan Priest | Yellow Sheet
As Arizona’s primary election enters its home stretch, spending from non-campaign sources has ramped up, with over $3.5 million poured in to prop up or knock out dozens of political hopefuls.
According to data from the secretary of state’s campaign finance portal analyzed by the Yellow Sheet Report, $3,545,720.89 has been spent as of July 14 to influence the outcome of several different statewide and legislative races. The outside spending, or independent expenditures, focused on 51 candidates, with the vast majority of it used to bolster candidates rather than tear them down.
The most independent expenditures spent on one race is by far the contentious and surprisingly tight Republican primary for attorney general. The Restore Order Arizona political action committee has spent $611,950.73 to propel Senate President Warren Petersen’s candidacy and an additional $612,737.96 to attack his opponent Rodney Glassman.
