Top Spenders In House and Senate Races

By Bill Britt
Alabama Political Reporter

MONTGOMERY—A part-time, $45,000-a-year job is worth a lot more than it used to be, according to the cash spent by the top ten money getters in the 2014 election cycle.

According to the best figures available at the moment, almost $7,000,000 was raised by 10 incumbents in the House and 10 in the Senate, with expenditures of almost the same amount.

This does not include dark money that was poured into campaigns.

Of all the money raised and spent during the 2014 election cycle so far, Speaker of the House Mike Hubbard, R-Auburn, was number one by a long shot. Hubbard raised $1,060,232 and had expenditures of $1,094,491. (He started the season with a leftover balance from the previous cycle.) While Hubbard used some of his campaign funds to pay his white collar criminal defense lawyer, he totally outpaced everyone in the House and Senate when it came to spending to save his job.

On the Senate side, President Pro Tem Del Marsh, R-Anniston, raised the most money with $661,945 in contributions. But, it was Sen. Tom Whatley, R-Auburn, who was the biggest spender, laying out $579,729 to hang on to his seat.

Rep. Mac Buttrum, R-Cullman, raised $191,556 and spent $184,102 only to end in a runoff against republican challenger Corey Harbison.

Also, Wayne Johnson, R-Ryland, raised $186,633 contributions and spent $144,371 in a losing race against fellow republican Ritchie Whorton.

The top Democrat in the Senate, Roger Bedford, D-Russellville, received $543,255, in contributions and had expenditures $152,058. He did not have a competitor in his primary.

Rep. Steve Clouse, R-Ozark, did not face a challenger in his primary race, yet he raised $235,964.

Senator Arthur Orr, R-Decatur, did not face an opponent in the primary raised $416,635, with of expenditures $53,824.

If campaign cash is the mother’s milk of politics, the cow sure would seem dry by now.

THE HOUSE

Mike Hubbard (R-HD 79) contributions $1,060,232; expenditures $1,094,491

Jack Williams (R-HD 47) contributions $456,855; expenditures $428,251

Barry Moore (R-HD 91) contributions $284,801; expenditures $249,266

Steve Clouse (R-HD 93) contributions $235,964; expenditures $26,114

Mack Butler (R-HD 30) contributions $200,187; expenditures $235,843

Mac Buttrum (R-HD 12) contributions $191,556; expenditures $184,102 runoff with Corey Harbison

Wayne Johnson (R-HD 22) contributions $186,633; expenditures $144,371 lost to Ritchie Whorton

Ed Henry (R-HD 9) contributions $179,985; expenditures $145,201

Chris Pringle (R-HD 101) contributions $163,443; expenditures $113,364

Bill Roberts (R-HD 13) contributions $154,635; expenditures $133,926

Total House contributions $3,114,291

Total House expenditures $2,754,929

THE SENATE

Del Marsh (R-SD 12) contributions $661,945, expenditures $530,786

Tom Whatley contributions $565,599, expenditures $579,729

Roger Bedford (D-SD 6) contributions $543,255, expenditures $152,058

Gerald Dial (R-SD 13) contributions $478,175, expenditures $466,744

Jim McClendon (R-SD 11) contributions $445,951, expenditures $446,520

Slade Blackwell (R-SD 15) contributions $441,750, expenditures $350,218

Paul Bussman (R-SD 4) contributions $434,348, expenditures $188,434

Jimmy Holley (R-SD 31) contributions $424,354, expenditures $325,517

Arthur Orr (R-SD 3) contributions $416,635, expenditures $53,824

William Moore (R-SD 31) contributions $350,830, expenditures $346,820

Total Senate contributions $3,780,608

Total Senate expenditures $3,440,650

Grand Total both House and Senate

Contributions $6,894,899

Expenditures $6,195,579