MONTGOMERY, Ala. — Candidates qualified, and a residency challenge was filed and dismissed. It was a busy month on the campaign trail, and the latest fundraising numbers for the Alabama governor’s race from January are in.
Republican U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville had a massive month of fundraising, bringing in $938,000 in contributions, according to campaign finance reports filed Tuesday. Tuberville ends January with $7.5 million on hand, trumping Democratic hopeful and former U.S. Sen. Doug Jones’ $861,000 war chest.
Jones – the last Democrat to hold statewide office – raised $212,000 in January, less than half of what he raised in December.
Tuberville did not receive any donations from PACs, his campaign has said he won’t, but he took in donations from several businesses, including a $5,000 contribution from Airbnb. He also raised $555,000 in major contributions alone. His 16 contributions over $25,000 included a $150,000 donation from Alabama Diversified Health Services LLC in Montgomery.
Jones spent $101,000, primarily on fundraising.
Tuberville spent $244,000 in January, according to the reports. Much of it was on consultants and polling and administration.
Democrats Chad “Chig” Martin and Will Jones also raised $2,400 and $2,700, respectively, in January. Independent Stacy Lee George brought in $2,800, according to the reports.
Republicans Ken McFeeters and “Alabama” Will Santivasci and Democrats Jamel J. Brown, Yolanda Rochelle Flowers and Nathan “Nate” Mathis are officially qualified for the race but did not report raising any money in January.
McFeeters submitted a challenge to fellow Republican candidate U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville’s residency status, but the challenge was dismissed by the Alabama GOP last weekend.
The primary is May 19.