MONTGOMERY, Ala. – The 2026 primary is less than 100 days away, and the latest campaign finance numbers for the state auditor’s race are in.
Republican Andrew Chen, an attorney from Vestavia Hills, led the race in fundraising last month, taking in $157,500, according to campaign finance reports filed Tuesday. He heads into March with $575,800 on hand.
A majority of Chen’s February fundraising came from three major contributions in the amounts of $60,000, $50,000 and $30,000. Those came from individuals with addresses in southern California.
Chen also brought in $6,000 in PAC money – $1,000 from Manufacture Alabama’s Jobs PAC and $5,000 from the Business Council of Alabama’s Progress PAC.
Madison County Commissioner and Democrat Violet Edwards was the runner-up in fundraising, bringing in $5,400 in February. She spent $1,900 and ended the month with a war chest of $7,200.
Edwards is running unopposed for the Democratic nomination.
Republican incumbent Andrew Sorrell raised $1,600 in February, all from individual donations. Sorrell had been running for secretary of state since last year but changed course to run for reelection as state auditor in early January.
Sorrell spent $40,100 last month and entered March with $109,000 on hand.
In addition to fundraising, all three candidates have loaned money to their own campaigns over the course of the race. Chen has loaned himself $410,000, Edwards has loaned $2,000 and Sorrell has loaned $150,100.
The primary is May 19.