How much does it cost to win a Tennessee gubernatorial election? The four leading candidates to replace term-limited Gov. Bill Lee have collectively spent $16.4 million since they entered the race through Sept. 30.
A large portion of that, about $9.7 million, comes from Republican nominee Sen. Marsha Blackburn's campaign. (That's on top of over $5 million from her separate federal campaign accountsbefore she announced her candidacy.)
Independent David Hatley, who self-funded his campaign, spent the next-highest amount at about $5.1 million. Democratic nominee Jerri Green spent around $1.1 million and independent Lauren Pinkston spent just over $453,000
Here's a look at governor and East Tennessee candidates' finances from July 28 to Sept. 30, the
most recent reporting period, which includes the primary election on Aug. 6.
Donations under $100 can be anonymous, so the number of donors, including political action committees, who contributed only included itemized donations on a candidates' report.
Tennessee governor campaign spending
Sen. Marsha Blackburn, Republican
- Raised: $2,104,196.87
- Individual contributors: 3,516
- Spent: $1,649,492.38
- Cash on hand: $3,137,204.68
Jerri Green, Democrat
- Raised: $995,496.69
- Individual contributors: 11,281
- Spent: $553,959.52
- Cash on hand: $559,538.90
David Hatley, independent
- Raised: Zero
- Individual contributors: Zero
- Spent: $3,888,136.07
- Cash on hand: $6,853,244.54
Lauren Pinkston, independent
- Raised: $149,637.90
- Individual contributors: 564
- Spent: $128,420.38
- Cash on hand: $38,176.29
Tennessee Senate District 5 campaign spending
Jimmy Matlock, Republican
- Raised: $36,284.86
- Individual contributors: 27
- Spent: $24,566.27
- Cash on hand: $169,309.74
David Miller, Democrat
- Raised: $9,967.07
- Individual contributors: 12
- Spent: $7,144.37
- Cash on hand: $4,539.09
Tennessee Senate District 7 campaign spending
Sen. Richard Briggs, Republican
- Raised: $31,550.75
- Individual contributors: 11
- Spent: $172,473.27
- Cash on hand: $520,364.59
Bryan Langan, Democrat
- Raised: $1,085
- Individual contributors: Six
- Spent: $1,314.25
- Cash on hand: $1,078.73
Tennessee House District 14 campaign spending
Lindsay Young Honaker, Democrat
- Raised: $9,954.21
- Individual contributors: 33
- Spent: $2,370.84
- Cash on hand: $15,944.68
Rep. Jason Zachary, Republican
- Raised: $13,500
- Individual contributors: 12
- Spent: $11,575.62
- Cash on hand: $96,246.99
Tennessee House District 15 campaign spending
Rep. Sam McKenzie, Democrat
- Raised: $7,750
- Individual contributors: 9
- Spent: $2,926.83
- Cash on hand: $22,422.05
Tennessee House District 16 campaign spending
Eliza Boles, Democrat
- Raised: $3,935.21
- Individual contributors: 10
- Spent: $3,579.93
- Cash on hand: $1,778.05
Rep. Michele Carringer, Republican
- Raised: $30,450
- Individual contributors: 19
- Spent: $25,239.02
- Cash on hand: $260,682.63
Tennessee House District 18 campaign spending
Bryan Goldberg, Democrat
- Raised: $75,464.21
- Individual contributors: 276
- Spent: $88,030.62
- Cash on hand: $79,812.28
Rep. Elaine Davis, Republican
- Raised: $60,664.39
- Individual contributors: 61
- Spent: $63,726.18
- Cash on hand: $64,336.54
Tennessee House District 19 campaign spending
Jenny Fowler, Democrat
- Raised: $6,312.71
- Individual contributors: 30
- Spent: $3,086.81
- Cash on hand: $6,821.17
Rep. Dave Wright, Republican
- Raised: $4,500
- Individual contributors: 6
- Spent: $3,616.90
- Cash on hand: $77,990.46
Tennessee House District 89 campaign spending
Randy DeBord, Democrat
- Raised: Zero
- Individual contributors: Zero
- Spent: Zero
- Cash on hand: $243
Rep. Justin Lafferty, Republican
- Raised: $15,500
- Individual contributors: 15
- Spent: $4,921.34
- Cash on hand: $111,392.30
Tennessee House District 90 campaign spending
Rep. Gloria Johnson, Democrat
- Raised: $2,290.00
- Individual contributors: 34
- Spent: $3,569.46
- Cash on hand: $13,127.15
Allie Feinberg is the politics reporter for Knox News. Email: allie.feinberg@knoxnews.com; Reddit: u/KnoxNewsAllie
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Tennessee governor and legislative candidates spend big in push before election
