Republican Greg Sowards is further complicating a crowded GOP primary in the Second Congressional District race by loaning his campaign $325,000 and forcing the other candidates to take him seriously.
He’s the third Republican candidate to announce a loan of several hundred thousand dollars to his campaign. Sowards originally said earlier today that he would loan his campaign $400,000, but after he learned that loans of greater than $350,000 trigger the Millionaires’ Amendment and triple contribution limits to $6,900, he instead decided to loan his campaign $325,000.
Sowards said today’s was a family decision. He went to the bank this afternoon to finalize a $200,000 loan, and said he will loan his campaign another $125,000 within the next week.
“There’s no reason I feel like these guys can push me out of the way, because I’m the one with the good ideas,” Sowards said of the other candidates who have loaned money to their own campaigns.
On the Republican side, Aubrey Dunn has loaned his campaign $300,000, and Ed Tinsley told me earlier this year that he was going to give his campaign at least $200,000 by the end of this month. On the Democratic side, Harry Teague has loaned his campaign $200,000.
Sowards, who owns several
His wealth has apparently grown significantly since then.
Sowards’ loan comes two days before Saturday’s GOP preprimary nominating convention in
Like the other candidates, Sowards has been meeting with delegates to try to earn their support.
“We’ll see what happens Saturday,” Sowards said.
Before this, Sowards hadn’t been considered by many to be among the more serious contenders in the race, but his financial commitment indicates he’ll likely gather signatures to stay in the race even if he doesn’t reach 20 percent on Saturday, and he now has the funds to get his message to voters.
This article originally stated that Sowards was loaning his campaign $400,000, and was updated after he decided to change the number to $325,000.