DeWine, Cordray top fund-raisers in race for governor

1/31/2018

Republican candidates for governor Mike DeWine, left, and Mary Taylor.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Republican gubernatorial candidate Mike DeWine raised more than five times in campaign dollars over the past six months than Lt. Governor Mary Taylor in the battle for their party’s nomination.

Mr. DeWine and his running mate Jon Husted collected nearly $2 million in contributions. He has nearly $10.5 million of cash on hand. That includes the nearly $4.6 million that Mr. Husted brought to the ticket after he quit his bid for governor and teamed with Mr. DeWine.

In the crowded Democratic field of five gubernatorial hopefuls, Richard Cordray reported raising just over $2 million since launching his campaign nearly two months ago to equal Mr. DeWine’s six-month fund-raising output.

Wednesday marked the deadline for candidates and political committees to report campaign contributions and spending for the last six months of 2017. All statewide elected offices, including governor, are up for election.

The total funds available to Ms. Taylor and her running mate, Nathan Estruth, pales in comparison to the robust DeWine-Husted campaign fund. Since last July, she has raised nearly $365,000. Her report showed that she took out a personal loan of $3,250,000 for her campaign to provide most of the $3,508,205 in funds she has available to spend.

The DeWine-Husted campaign boasted that 95 percent of donations were from within the state, with an average contribution of about $652.

“There is a long way to go until November and we are eager to continue all of the positive momentum we’ve received from every corner of Ohio,” said Ryan Stubenrauch, the DeWine-Husted campaign spokesman.

Mr. Cordray, a former federal consumer watchdog, Ohio attorney general, treasurer, and state representative, and his running mate, former congressman Betty Sutton, issued a statement that they collected more than $250,000 a week and the campaign raised nearly $1.5 million in January.

“Our campaign is off to a fast start because so many Ohioans know that we can, and must, do better as a state to deliver opportunity for all people, and believe that Betty and I have the vision and experience to get it done,” Mr. Cordray said in a statement.

Mr. Cordray leads all Democrats in fund-raising.

In her finance campaign filing, Democrat Connie Pillich reported raising $482,856 for the period and spent $291,672. Ms. Pillich, who is running with Marion Mayor Scott Schertzer, has $911,655 of funds in the bank for her gubernatorial campaign.

State Sen. Joe Schiavoni (D., Boardman), another Democrat seeking the party’s nomination, collected $261,219, spent $229,808, and has $276,661 of funds in the bank.

Former U.S. Congressman Dennis Kucinich launched his campaign for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination in January, after the reporting period to submit finance reports.

A fifth Democratic candidate, former Ohio Supreme Court Justice William O’Neill, also was required to file a report. He retired from the court last week and organized his fund-raising committee six days ago. He said he has raised about $30,000.

“I am enjoying the race so far. I will start raising money and I will do well. The reality is that ideas will win this election,” he said.

Contract Mark Reiter at: markreiter@theblade.com or 419-724-6199