HOMEWOOD, Ala. — Rep. Paul DeMarco’s campaign for Congress will report raising more than $484,000 in the first quarter of 2014, making his total contributions to date more than $850,000.
“The people of Alabama’s Sixth District have embraced our campaign for conservative, common sense leadership in Congress,” DeMarco said in a release. “The people standing with this campaign are not the special interests of Washington, but hard-working Alabamians looking for people of courage willing to fight for what we believe, no matter what.”
More than 1,200 individuals have contributed to the campaign, according to the DeMarco camp. Contributions range from $5 to the maximum $2,600 allowed by an individual under federal elections law. They also noted that nearly 97 percent of the contributions came from donors inside the state. Rep. DeMarco did not make a loan to his campaign other than for what his campaign referred to as “nominal expenses.”
“People from Clanton in Chilton County to Remlap in Blount County, and everywhere in between, have responded to our call to restore Alabama values in Washington,” DeMarco said.
Campaign finance laws stipulate that an individual is allowed to give a maximum of $2,600 to a candidate for a primary election and another $2,600 for the general. A DeMarco campaign spokesperson told Yellowhammer Friday that it appears that roughly 90 percent of the money they have received to this point is useable in the primary.
The campaign expects to report about $650,000 cash-on-hand at the close of the most recent reporting period on March 31, 2014. The quarterly report is due to the Federal Election Commission by midnight, April 15.
DeMarco is a two-term state representative seeking the Republican nomination for the congressional seat being vacated by Rep. Spencer Bachus, who has served 11 terms.
The other 6th Congressional district campaigns have not yet announced their first quarter fundraising hauls.
Below is a picture of where things stood at the end of 2013. Bear in mind, these totals include loans that some candidates gave to their own campaign. But hey, it’s all spendable. The upcoming reports will undoubtedly help separate the candidates who are tapped out from the ones who have deeper financial support.
Ranked by amount raised as of Dec. 31 (h/t AL.com):
• Chad Mathis raised $373,000 and ended the year with $305,000 cash-on-hand.
• Paul DeMarco raised $367,000 and ended the year with $352,000 cash-on-hand.
• Will Brooke raised $318,000 and ended the year with $269,000 cash-on-hand.
• Gary Palmer raised $256,000 in 2013 and ended the year with $250,000 cash-on-hand.
• Scott Beason ended the year with $2,100 cash-on-hand.
• Robert Shattuck did not file a report.
• Tom Vigneulle did not enter the race until January, so he didn’t have a 2013 report.
Follow Cliff on Twitter @Cliff_Sims
