By Brandon Moseley
According to recent campaign finance reports filed with the Alabama Secretary of State’s office, Republican candidates for the Alabama State Senate are well-positioned for the 2022 campaign season.
Alabama Senate Republican candidates report raising $4,151,903.62, while Democratic candidates have raised $367,422.26.
Incumbent Sen. Tom Whatley (R-Auburn) is leading the field in 2021 fundraising with $366,071. Whatley is already aggressively advertising and so he has just $246,933.89 in cash entering December.
Whatley is closely followed by State Rep. Mike Jones (R-Andalusia), who is running for the Senate District 31 seat, where incumbent Sen. Jimmy Holley (R-Elba) is retiring. Jones has raised $339,979.21 and carries $309,933.83 into December.
Republicans control the Alabama Senate, 27 to eight. Senate Minority Leader incumbent Bobby Singleton (D-Greensboro) is the leading Democrat in fundraising. Singleton raised $105,000 in the first 11 months of 2021 and carried over a total fund balance of $289,655.84 into this month.
The largest campaign stockpile belongs to incumbent Sen. Arthur Orr (R-Decatur). Orr only raised $64,500 this year, but his total campaign fund balance is $818,345.07.
Nine of the top 10 fundraisers are Republican incumbents.
SEE ALSO: Statewide constitutional office candidates report robust fundraising
Both Everett Powell III (R) and Lisa Ward (D) are challenging incumbent Sen. Gerald Allen (R-Tuscaloosa), but none of the other incumbents have an opponent who has begun raising money.
1819 news ranked the 37 state Senate candidates who have filed campaign finance reports based on dollars of contributions in 2021. The second number is cash on hand after expenses and includes dollar amounts available from previous fundraising years.
Democratic candidate qualifying opens on Monday, while Republican qualifying will not begin until January. The major party primaries will be on May 24, 2022.
To connect with the author of this story, or to comment, email brandon.moseley@1819News.com.
