Republicans Outraise Democrats in Federal Races

Candidates running for federal office were required to turn in two financial reports this month. The final quarterly finance disclosures were due on Oct. 15, and pre-general-election filings were due Oct. 24. The last time candidates reported their finances was prior to the primary election and covered dates through July 12. Now candidates’ reports show financial updates through Oct. 16.

In the race for one of Tennessee’s two U.S. Senate seats, incumbent Republican Marsha Blackburn has outraised and outspent her Democratic challenger, state Rep. Gloria Johnson of Knoxville. Blackburn began the quarterly period with almost $8.8 million in the bank and ended with just shy of $8.1 million. Her pre-general filing shows she spent more than $3 million in the first two weeks of October, leaving her with about $5 million going into the general election on Nov. 5. That $3 million is more than Blackburn spent over the quarter ending in October, in which she reported $2.95 million in disbursements. She received a total of nearly $1.13 million in the quarter and added an additional $180,000 in the first two weeks of October.

Blackburn has spent more than $3.5 million on media and strategy groups during the two reporting periods. Her campaign reports also show more than $27,800 in “other receipts” between the July and October reporting periods. That line item can potentially represent stock dividends or Bitcoin donations. The Nashville Banner reports that no other Tennessee candidate for federal office has filed any “other receipts” this election cycle.

Blackburn has received more than $2.7 million in contributions via political action committees throughout the election cycle, including from leadership at large companies including manufacturer Ingram Industries, private prison corporation CoreCivic and chain retailer Tractor Supply.

Johnson began the quarter with $2 million in the bank and ended with just under $2.4 million. Her pre-general filing shows she spent $1.2 million in the first two weeks of October, leaving her with about $1.5 million going into the general election on Nov. 5.

Johnson also spent nearly as much in the two weeks of the pre-general report as she spent over the entire quarter, in which she reported $1.5 million in disbursements. She received a total of nearly $1.8 million in the quarter and added an additional $367,000 in the first two weeks of October.

Johnson has received just $67,000 in contributions from political action committees throughout the election cycle. Over the entire election cycle, she has raised almost $6.9 million total.

FBI Seizes Ogles' Cellphone in Campaign Finance Investigation

Tennessee's 7th Congressional District rep under fire for financial discrepancies from primary reporting

Incumbent U.S. Rep. Andy Ogles is defending his 5th Congressional District seat against Democratic challenger Maryam Abolfazli, an activist and founder of the nonprofit Rise and Shine Tennessee. Ogles has amended his filings several times during this election cycle and is under investigation related to his campaign finances.

In his pre-general filings, Ogles reports only $659 raised and less than $11,500 spent in the first two weeks of October. He reportedly has less than $100,000 on hand going into Nov. 5. Abolfazli has a little more going into Election Day, with about $110,000 on hand, but she has some momentum: She raised more than $34,000 over the first two weeks of October and spent more than $75,000 over that time.

Incumbent U.S. Rep. Mark Green faces former Nashville Mayor Megan Barry in the 7th Congressional District, and the two have been locked in a TV ad battle that has ramped up over the past month. Barry slightly outraised Green in the pre-general filings of the first two weeks in October, reporting more than $53,500 raised, with Green reporting more than $44,300.

Green had fuller coffers to pull from, reportedly spending more than $465,600 over that same time period, with Barry spending about $225,000. But that has left Green with just about $104,000 going into Election Day, while Barry has $410,000 on hand. She’s put up a good financial fight during the cycle, raising $1.1 million compared to Green’s $2 million in the heavily red-leaning district.

Notable local and state business leaders who have donated to the Blackburn Tennessee Victory Fund PAC include:

CEO of Ingram Industries Orrin Ingram and his brother John Ingram, president of Ingram Industries
CoreCivic CEO Damon Hiniger, COO Patrick Swindle and CFO David Garfinkle as well as six other executives
Tractor Supply CEO Hal Lawton and at least nine executives
Dollar General VP of government relations Stephen Brophy
Cracker Barrel CEO Sandra Cochran
HCA CEO Samuel Hazen
HG Hill CEO Jimmy Granberry
Ryman Hospitality executive chairman of the board Colin Reed
Healthcare Corp. CEO Bob Falk
President and CEO of FedEx Frederick Smith and CFO Michael Lenz

Notable local and state business leaders who have donated to the Johnson campaign: