Democratic candidates dominated fundraising in last fall’s elections for the top statewide positions in North Carolina government, according to campaign finance reports filed this week. But it didn’t always translate into victories.

Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper reported raising another $4.5 million during the final 2 1/2 months of 2020, most of which arrived during the two weeks before the Nov. 3 election.

That brought both Cooper’s overall fundraising and spending totals since the start of the campaign cycle in early 2017 to roughly $41 million each, according to his campaign’s report. Fourth-quarter reports for candidates on the November ballot were due Tuesday at the State Board of Elections.

The totals paled in comparison to those of Cooper’s challenger, then-Republican Lt. Gov. Dan Forest, who lost to Cooper by 4.5 percentage points.

Forest, who had prepared for a gubernatorial bid for years, reported raising $11.7 million during the cycle and spending $11.2 million. Forest raised $785,000 in the fourth quarter.

Democratic Attorney General Josh Stein won by just 14,000 votes despite spending 10 times as much campaign money during the cycle compared with Republican challenger Jim O’Neill — $12.6 million to $1.25 million.

In the race for lieutenant governor, Republican Mark Robinson and Democrat Yvonne Holley were essentially tied in campaign spending at about $1.3 million each.

But Robinson won even through Holley benefited from large donations by former Democratic presidential candidate and billionaire Michael Bloomberg to the Beyond Carbon Victory Fund that he created to promote clean energy. Nearly all of the nearly $8.8 million that the independent expenditure group spent went to back Holley’s candidacy through radio, TV and online advertising, according to filings.

Republicans also swept all eight elections for seats on the state Supreme Court and the Court of Appeals despite getting outspent in the individual races by Democratic candidates.

In the race for chief justice, Democratic incumbent Cheri Beasley spent nearly $2.1 million in her bid for a full eight-year term. Associate Justice Paul Newby, a Republican challenging Beasley, spent $973,000 during the campaign cycle.

Newby won one of the closest statewide elections in North Carolina history, receiving just 401 more votes than Beasley from nearly 5.4 million cast.

 

Photo via AP Photo/Gerry Broome.

 

Related Stories
‹
North Carolina Lawmakers Approve Mask Bill That Allows Health Exemption After Pushback
The amended bill still increases punishments for people wearing masks while committing a crime, but was re-worked to consider health risks.
Stein, Other North Carolina Democrats Have Fundraising Leads Entering Summer
Written by GARY D. ROBERTSON North Carolina Democrats outpaced their Republican rivals in fundraising over the past several months, according to campaign filings, entering the summer with cash advantages in a handful of top-ballot races this fall. Democratic candidate for governor Josh Stein continued to best Republican rival Mark Robinson in collecting donations during a […]
North Carolina Governor Vetoes Masks Bill Largely Because of Provision About Campaign Finance
After changes were made to North Carolina's masking bill, Gov. Roy Cooper vetoed the it over a new campaign finance provision.
Folwell Lends His Governor’s Campaign $1 Million; Stein, Robinson Still on Top With Money
Written by THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Most of what North Carolina Republican gubernatorial candidate and State Treasurer Dale Folwell raised during the first half of the year for his campaign committee has come from $1 million that he loaned it, according to a new campaign finance report. Folwell’s campaign, like others whose candidates are on ballots in […]
North Carolina Governor Candidate Stein’s Campaign Raises About $6 Million in Past 6 Months
Written by THE ASSOCIATED PRESS North Carolina gubernatorial candidate Josh Stein’s campaign announced Monday it collected nearly $6 million during the first half of the year, an amount following the Democrat’s robust fundraising for his past successful elections for attorney general. Campaign finance reports for the first six months are not due at the State […]
Democrats Spend $4M More Aiding Beasley in NC Senate Race
Written by GARY D. ROBERTSON National Democrats getting outspent by rival Republican groups in North Carolina’s U.S. Senate race sought to narrow the gap Tuesday by running a new commercial criticizing GOP nominee Ted Budd on his abortion views. Senate Majority PAC, aligned with Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said it’s spending over $4 million […]
Budd Embraces Trump, Abortion Opposition in NC Senate Race
Written by GARY D. ROBERTSON and STEVE PEOPLES In competitive races across the U.S., Republican candidates are distancing themselves from their party’s most controversial policies and people — namely, abortion and former President Donald Trump — as Election Day approaches. Not Ted Budd. The North Carolina GOP Senate nominee is leaning into support for abortion restrictions […]
NC Governor Vetoes Bill Barring Donations To Run Elections
Written by GARY D. ROBERTSON Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper vetoed Republican legislation Thursday that would bar North Carolina election boards and officials in counties from accepting private money to run elections. The bill, one of several election-related measures pushed by GOP legislators this year, responded to the funds distributed nationwide — including millions of dollars to North […]
Beasley Again the Top Fundraiser in NC US Senate Race
Written by BRYAN ANDERSON and GARY D. ROBERTSON Former state Supreme Court Chief Justice Cheri Beasley was the top third-quarter fundraiser for candidates in next year’s U.S. Senate race in North Carolina, according to documents filed at Friday’s financial reporting deadline. Beasley’s campaign finance report showed the Democrat brought in more than $1.5 million during […]
Beasley, McCrory on Top in Latest Senate Fundraising Haul
Written by BRYAN ANDERSON Former North Carolina Supreme Court Chief Justice Cheri Beasley and ex-Gov. Pat McCrory brought in the most money in their respective Democratic and Republican primary bids for an open 2022 U.S. Senate seat, new campaign finance reports show. The more than $1.2 million each candidate raised in the latest reporting period […]
›