The Diane Black campaign announced that it has raised more than $6 million since the beginning of her campaign for governor and more than $3.3 million during the 1st quarter of 2018. The campaign has received 2,196 total contributions from all 95 Tennessee counties and has almost $2.1 million cash on hand.
“We are building the strongest grassroots campaign in the history of the state of Tennessee, and financial contributions are a big part of that,” said Diane Black for Governor Campaign Manager Matt Parker. “People across the state of Tennessee are responding to Diane’s compelling personal story and strong conservative message.
It’s clear that she is best positioned to win in August and in November.”
Republican gubernatorial candidate Bill Lee announced that his campaign for governor has over $6.3 million cash on hand after the first reporting period of 2018. The total cash on hand includes receipts of over $3.3 million in the first quarter of the year.
“When Maria and I kicked off this campaign about a year ago, we had no idea what to expect since this was our first run for political office,” said Mr. Lee. “We continue to be humbled and overwhelmed by the amount of support we have seen from every corner of this state.”
“Our cash on hand number shows that Bill has the resources he needs to win this primary in August, which he intends to do,” said Stuart McWhorter, Lee Campaign finance chairman. “I’m honored to work with him on this campaign, and we have a lot more work ahead of us as we look to victory in the August Republican Primary.”
Randy Boyd, Republican candidate for governor, announced that his campaign has raised more than $10 million in total contributions to date – while pulling in over $2.6 million in donations to his campaign just during the first three months of 2018.
“Randy has been campaigning in local communities for over a year now, and the grassroots support and momentum he is generating among supporters, donors, and local endorsements is reflected in these very strong fundraising totals,” said Chip Saltsman, campaign CEO. “Now we plan to extend and amplify his momentum through an aggressive advertising campaign between now and the end of the primary.”
Although launching initial advertising in January, Mr. Saltsman said the Boyd campaign has already reserved over $5 million in television advertising during June and July leading up to the Aug. 2 Republican primary.
“As Randy likes to say, we are leading 3 to 2 in the top of the 7th inning, but we are taking nothing for granted and are going to keep playing hard right to the end. This television buy is just one example of that,” Mr. Saltsman said.
Since he began his campaign one year ago, Mr. Boyd has already generated contributions from over 4,000 donors and supporters representing all 95 counties in the state, it was stated.
During the first quarter, Mr. Boyd outraised each of his opponents 2:1 from individual Tennesseans, the campaign said. And, unlike several of the other campaigns, his financial disclosures show no outstanding loans, it was stated.
“It’s clear that Tennesseans want a conservative businessman, and not a career politician to be our next Governor, and that is why so many citizens across the state are investing in Randy’s campaign,” said Steve Smith, Boyd Campaign finance chairman.
The Karl Dean for Governor campaign said its total raised from contributors now tops $3 million. During the most recent fundraising period, which ended March 31, the campaign raised $549,168. The campaign currently has $2.02 million cash on hand available to spend.
His campaign said, "Dean’s fundraising numbers continue to be a sign of the campaign’s growing grassroots support across the state with roughly 6,000 individual contributors from 86 of Tennessee’s 95 counties. The campaign gained more than 1,000 new contributors during the recent fundraising period alone. Dean continues to lead all of his opponents on the number of contributors to his campaign."
“We are honored to have the support, confidence and investment of so many people across Tennessee,” Courtney Wheeler, campaign manager, said. “Those resources will support a strong grassroots coalition in all 95 counties and it will allow us to broadly share how Karl Dean will focus on common-sense solutions that will move our state forward.”
During the first quarter of the year, the campaign added a field director and regional field staff who will activate Dean’s already broad base of supporters to grow the campaign’s grassroots operation. A series of statewide volunteer trainings kick off this week.