By CAROLINE BECK, Alabama Daily News
MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Dothan businessman Jeff Coleman out raised GOP 2nd Congressional District runoff opponent, former State Rep. Barry Moore, in the last fundraising cycle of the campaign as the candidates enter the final week of the race.
For the April 1 through June 24 fundraising period, Coleman raised $328,502, while Moore raised $92,343.
Notably, Coleman garnered contributions from a few top Alabama Republicans, including current 2nd District Rep. Martha Roby and longtime Sen. Richard Shelby.
Roby affiliated accounts have contributed a total of $14,000 to Coleman’s campaign, according to federal campaign records. Roby’s federal campaign account contributed $4,000 to Coleman and her MARTHA PAC leadership committee contributed another $10,000.
Roby announced last year that she would not be seeking re-election for the seat which she has held since 2011. The Montgomery Republican was careful early on not to take sides in the crowded field to succeed her, and her leadership committee’s first contribution to Coleman is dated March 26, after the runoff had begun.
Roby’s office did not offer comment on the contributions Monday.
Shelby, Alabama’s senior senator and chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, has contributed a total of $15,000 to Coleman’s campaign from Shelby’s leadership committee, Defend America PAC. A Shelby spokesperson told Alabama Daily News the senator “has known Jeff and his family for years and believes he is well-suited to represent Alabama’s second congressional district.”
Coleman spent $257,761 and finished with $132,054 cash on hand according to the most recent Federal Election Commission report. Moore spent $126,784 and finished with $92,583 cash on hand.
Over the course of the campaign, Coleman has spent the most out of the two candidates at more than $2.2 million. He also contributed $975,000 in personal loans. Moore has spent a total of $394,338 over the course of the campaign, but has been aided by the Club for Growth, a Washington, D.C.-based political group that has run television and mail advertisements on his behalf.
Coleman won 38% of the vote in the March 3 GOP Primary, with Moore securing a spot in the runoff with 21% of the vote.
The two will face off in the primary runoff election on July 14. The winner of the GOP primary will face Democratic nominee Phyliss Harvey-Hall in the November general election.