PHOENIX β The Democrats donβt even have a gubernatorial nominee yet. But that hasnβt kept the Republican Governors Association from already spending more than $9.2 million trying to ensure Doug Ducey gets another term.
Virtually all of that was spent on commercials to attack David Garcia, who is competing against fellow Democrats Steve Farley and Kelly Fryer in the Aug. 28 primary election.
The latest campaign filings show Farley isnβt even on the Republican Governors Assocationβs radar, though Fryer did register a blip, as the group spent $12,950 to produce a commercial against her.
And as to pro-Ducey efforts? Those amount to less than $32,000.
RGA spokesman Jon Thompson said the national organization normally doesnβt talk about how it spends its money, which is generated through business contributions. But he did allow that much of it was based on Garciaβs standing as frontrunner among the Democratic contenders in polls.
The new spending on Duceyβs behalf is on top of $1.7 million the governorβs own campaign committee has spent. And he has a cushion, with $3.2 million in the bank.
Meanwhile, Duceyβs Republican foe Ken Bennett continued to struggle Tuesday to get the last of the 4,000 $5 donations that would qualify him for public funding for his bid in the GOP primary election.
The deadline to collect those was at midnight Tuesday night. Bennett said he was hopeful he would get in under the wire.
Even if he does qualify, that would entitle him to just $839,704. And he would have less than a week to use it up before the primary.
To date, Bennettβs campaign has largely been limited to social media and press releases.
On the Democratic side, Garcia collected slightly more than $1 million, with $881,000 in expenses.
