Some campaign and campaign fundraising news from Monday.
Current Alabama Auditor Andrew Sorrell, who has been running since last year to be the next Alabama secretary of state, qualified for his current seat.
According to a list of candidates from the first day of qualifying, Sorrell now wants another term as auditor.
Staying in the secretary of state race would have meant a May 19 GOP primary against Caroleene Dobson, who has outraised Sorrell so far. She ended December with more than $840,000 on hand, including a $500,000 loan to her campaign last year.
Sorrell ended December with less than $6,000 on hand after spending so far more than $468,000.
In the auditor’s race, Republican Derek Chen has so far led fundraising with a more than $500,000 loan and about $47,000 in contributions.
Joshua Pendergrass has also been raising funds since last year, ending December with about $14,700 on hand.
AG’s race
Republican Alabama attorney general candidate Jay Mitchell raised $139,500 in December, bringing his total raised so far to $2.66 million, according to his latest campaign finance reports.
The former Alabama Supreme Court associate justice ended December with $2.24 million. He’s spent more than $446,000 to date.
Fellow Republican Katherine Robertson raised more than $108,000 in December, including $25,000 from the Alabama Farmers Federation’s Political Action Committee.
Robertson, who is chief counsel to current Attorney General Steve Marshall, has raised $2.52 million and ended December with nearly $1.49 million on hand. Her campaign has spent more than $1 million so far.
Blount County District Attorney Pamela Casey raised more than $13,000 in December and ended the month with $607,611.
Lt. Gov. contest
Republican candidate for lieutenant governor Wes Allen raised $103,100 in December, including one $25,000 donation, according to his latest campaign finance reports.
The current secretary of state ended the month with more than $1 million on hand and continues to lead fundraising in the GOP primary.
Rick Pate, the current commissioner of agriculture and industries, loaned his campaign an additional $100,000 late last month, ending December with about $594,000 on hand.
Nicole Wadsworth raised more than $11,000 and ended the month with $253,800 on hand. Republicans Dean Odle and Patrick Bishop are also raising smaller amounts of money in the contest.
New last month to the lieutenant governor’s race, Democrat Phillip Ensler raised $53,844, including one $20,000 contribution.
Primaries are May 19.