Governor's Race: What 1st Quarter Campaign Finance Reports Will Say
GoLocalProv Political Team
Governor's Race: What 1st Quarter Campaign Finance Reports Will Say
Campaign reports for the first quarter must be made public by May 1. The Democratic primary is just 16 months away.
The primary for governor is crowded with multiple high-profile candidates — three two-time statewide elected officials and the mayor of the capital city are among the potential entrants.
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Governor Dan McKee was elevated to Governor in February and expectations are high for his fundraising for the quarter.
According to multiple Rhode Island political pundits, expectations are running high for McKee. Anything short of the new Governor raising $400,000 for the first quarter will be a disappointment if he wants to keep the seat.
McKee’s fundraising in the 4th quarter of 2020 was underwhelming. Despite being assured of the Governor’s seat in December, McKee only raised $67,500 in the quarter and finished the year with just $165,952.84 cash on hand, by far the least of the four viable Democratic candidates — McKee, General Treasurer Seth Magaziner, Secretary of State Nellie Gorbea, and Providence Mayor Jorge Elorza.
All four candidates were term-limited from running for re-election.
Magaziner is sitting on the largest political war chest with $1,044,541.28, but only raised $92,659 for the 4th quarter of 2020. Expectations are that Magaziner will bounce back in the 1st quarter of 2021.
Of note, Magaziner’s campaign indicates that it carries a whopping $701,500 in debt— loans payable to the candidate personally.
Nellie Gorbea was the surprise fundraiser of the 4th quarter of 2020. She brought in $103,422 -- more than McKee or Magaziner.
But now the question is can she build on that, and up the fundraising. She ended 2020 with $415,351.82. Gorbea has the advantage of being the only female candidate in the crowded primary.
In the last quarter, Elorza outpaced all the other candidates by raising $183,019. And, he has the second-most cash on hand with $887,153.24.
One industry that fueled Elorza’s last quarter was construction-related firms and many of them were vying for contracts tied to city schools.
The question emerging is will Elorza be able to attract national progressive fundraising groups. If elected, he would likely be the most liberal governor in America.
GOP?
To date, there has been little from the Rhode Island Republicans.
From 1984 to 2010, Democrats only held the Rhode Island Governor's office for four years -- Bruce Sundlin from 1991 to 1995.
In this cycle, there has been little organized fundraising by any viable potential candidates -- Minority Leader Blake Filippi, former Cranston Mayor and two-time candidate for governor Allan Fung, or emerging Republican star Rep. Barbara Ann Fenton-Fung.