MONTGOMERY, Ala. – March fundraising numbers for the state auditor’s race are in.
Just over two months out from the primary, Republican Derek Chen’s war chest is more than ten times larger than his opponent’s.
Chen, an attorney from Vestavia Hills, led the field in March with an intake of $102,000, according to campaign finance reports filed Thursday.
A majority of his fundraising came from a donation of $80,000 from an individual in southern California. The same person donated $50,000 to his campaign in February.
Chen also brought in two $10,000 donations from FARMPAC – Alabama Farmers Federation’s political action committee – and SVBII PAC.
He spent $5,000 in March and ended the month with $673,000 on hand.
Incumbent Republican Andrew Sorrell raised $7,400 last month, all from individual donors. Sorrell had been running for secretary of state since last year but changed course to run for reelection as state auditor in early January.
He spent $51,000 – mostly on advertising – and headed into April with a war chest of $66,000.
Madison County Commissioner and Democrat Violet Edwards brought in $3,050 in March, including a $1,000 donation from the infrastructure-focused Three Notch Group PAC.
She spent $2,700 and entered this month with $11,200.
Edwards is running unopposed for the Democratic nomination.
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.