MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Republican John Wahl led Democrat Phillip Ensler in August fundraising in the race to be Alabama’s next lieutenant governor, according to campaign finance reports filed this week.
Wahl, former chair of the Alabama Republican Party, took in $140,000 last month, more than 90% of which stemmed from political action committee money.
Eight PACs donated to Wahl’s campaign for a total of $129,000. The largest donation – $70,000 – came from the Club for Growth PAC, a prominent conservative super PAC that spends heavily in state races.
Other donations include:
- $25,000 from the Business Council of Alabama’s Progress PAC
- $10,000 from steel manufacturer Nucor PAC
- $10,000 from petroleum refiner Hunt Refining Company PAC
- $10,000 from the Associated Builders and Contractors Merit PAC
- $2,500 from the Alabama Federation of Republican Women
- $1,000 from the Alabama CPA PAC
- $200 from the American Principles PAC based in Miami
Wahl told Alabama Daily News he’s very proud of the wide range of causes that donated to his campaign.
“In the primary, we were the candidate that overperformed the polling and pulled into the grassroots,” Wahl said. “I think you’re going to see that momentum continue moving to the general election, and our donations reflect that broad range of support, all the way from large manufacturers to associations in Montgomery to the conservative grassroots organizations that the Republican Party is built on.”
Ensler, a state representative out of Montgomery, brought in $41,000, mostly from individual donations.
Ensler’s intake also included $2,750 from Huntsville-based progressive Persistence PAC, $1,000 from Etowah County Democratic Women, $1,000 from the Alabama AFL-CIO PAC and $250 from Watson McKinney LLP.
Ensler said small donations from individuals will continue to power his campaign through the general election.
“We’re going to keep our focus on building momentum through small-dollar donations from regular Alabamians who believe in our vision of a better Alabama and want to give power back to the people,” Ensler told. “I am proud that we have built our campaign through grassroots fundraising… We have been to almost 2/3rds of Alabama’s counties and (I’m) fired up to visit the rest as we build a 67-county coalition of Alabamians of all backgrounds. Everywhere we go we hear from Alabamians who are ready for change.”
Spending
Wahl also led the field in expenditures, doling out $70,000. A majority of his spending was on advertising, including $47,000 to WALA-TV in Huntsville.
Ensler spent $44,000 last month, most of which he dedicated to consultants.
Ensler entered September with a cash reserve of $96,000. Wahl had $214,000.
The general election is Nov. 3.