Pictures of Money / Creative Commons
The newest finance reports were due Monday.
Two of the three candidates seeking the Democratic nomination for governor have over $1.5 million cash on hand for the final stretch before the primary election on June 5. Early voting has already started.
State Sen. Joseph Cervantes has now loaned his own campaign over $2 million and raised only about $15,000 from others, according to a report filed Monday. He now has $1.65 million cash on hand.
U.S. Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham raised over $410,000 and spent nearly $640,000 between April 3 and May 7. She now has about $1.6 million cash on hand.
The third candidate, former media executive Jeff Apodaca, raised just under $120,000 and spent almost $180,000. He has just under $265,000 cash on hand ahead of the primary.
Meanwhile, Republican U.S. Rep. Steve Pearce had nearly $2 million cash after raising just over $118,000 and spending nearly $275,000. Pearce does not have an opponent in the primary.
Libertarian Party candidate Bob Walsh did not report raising or spending any money.
Lujan Grisham spent the most out of any candidate in the time period and raised the most money if discounting loans.
Pearce was the only Republican statewide candidate to spend more than $10,000 in the time period. Only two other Republican candidates raised over $10,000. No Republican candidate has a contested primary.
Incumbent Susana Martinez, a Republican, cannot run for a third consecutive term.
Commissioner of public lands
Another hotly-contested primary for Democrats is for commissioner of public lands.
State Sen. George Muñoz of Gallup raised $13,320 and spent just under $5,500, leaving $211,000 in the bank.
His opponents, State Rep. Stephanie Garcia Richard of Los Alamos and Garrett VeneKlasen, each raised more money but also spent more money.
VeneKlasen raised nearly $50,000 and spent nearly $60,000. He still has $75,000. Garcia Richard raised nearly $25,000 and spent a little less. She now has just over $30,000 cash.
Republican Pat Lyons finished with nearly $82,000 cash. He has no opponent in the June primary. Libertarian Michael Lucero raised $5,000 from the campaign of Aubrey Dunn, the incumbent commissioner of public lands who is running this year for U.S. Senate as a Libertarian.
Attorney general
Incumbent Attorney General Hector Balderas raised $14,000 and finished with $900,000 cash on hand. He maintains an enormous cash advantage over both of his opponents in the fall.
His Republican opponent Michael Hendricks finished the campaign finance period with $35,000 and Libertarian Blair Dunn finished with $6,000 cash.
None of the candidates have an opponent in the June primaries.
Other races
Incumbent Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver has over $135,000 cash on hand, and raised nearly $25,000 in the period. JoHanna Cox is the lone Republican running for secretary of state. She reported just over $5,000 cash on hand.
Libertarian candidate Sandra Jeff raised $5,000 from Dunn’s campaign.
Brian Colón, seeking the Democratic nomination for state auditor, reported raising over $50,000 and has $122,000 cash on hand. Colón faces State Rep. Bill McCamley of Las Cruces in the primary. McCamley reported raising over $27,000 but spent nearly $135,000, leaving him with just over $17,000 cash on hand.
Republican Wayne Johnson, the current state auditor, raised over $16,000 and finished with more than $50,000 cash on hand.
But State Sen. Howie Morales of Silver City reported over $63,000 cash on hand, while Billy Garrett reported over $20,000. Former House Majority Leader Rick Miera did not file his report by press time.
Republican Michelle Garcia Holmes raised over $27,000, while Libertarian Lt. Gov. candidate Robin Dunn raised $2,000.
For State Auditor, Tim Eichenberg finished with nearly $40,000 cash on hand, while Republican Arthur Castillo had just $25.27.