Craft has loaned herself upwards of $7 million in her effort to pull ahead of Attorney General Daniel Cameron in the crowded GOP gubernatorial primary. That’s according to the latest from the Kentucky Registry of Election Finance. At the same time, the PAC aligned behind Craft’s campaign is being mostly funded by Craft’s husband, billionaire coal businessman Joe Craft.
While candidate Craft has poured money into the campaign, with poll numbers now within striking distance of Cameron, the attorney general has been taking more of a steady as she goes approach when it comes to fundraising, with a “dark money” conservative group funding a PAC supporting his campaign.
Agriculture Commissioner Ryan Quarles, who has also inched upward in the polls to 15% according to the latest Emerson survey, has been slower to fill his war chest but he’s also banking more of it for now.
The Lexington Herald Leader also highlighted some notable names on the donor lists. Cameron has received financial support from former GOP gubernatorial hopeful Hal Heiner along with the grandson of billionaire former independent presidential candidate Ross Perot.
Craft can count among her backers Florida Governor Rick Scott and the CEO of Churchill Downs, while Quarles boasts the highest percentage of Kentucky donors.
Meanwhile, Democratic incumbent Andy Beshear added $1.4 million in the last quarter, boosting his total fundraising to $6.6 million.
