Gainesville Republican Butch Miller has raised more than $2 million in his bid to be Georgia's next lieutenant governor, according to campaign finance reports filed with state ethics officials this week.
Miller, the president pro-tem of the state Senate, raised much of the money at a fundraising event last week in Gainesville that drew more than 1,000 supporters and earned Miller the endorsements of former Gov. Nathan Deal and former Sen. David Perdue.
“We’re just getting started,” Miller said. “We’re traveling the state, we’re getting a tremendous response, and these numbers tell that story. I have a long record of conservative policy victories that have brought prosperity to Georgia, and I have a conservative vision to ensure that even better days are ahead for Georgia families and businesses."
Current Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan has said he is not seeking re-election to a second term.
Meanwhile, Gov. Brian Kemp has more than $9 million on hand more than a year before the 2022 general election, having raised nearly $4 million from Feb. 1 through June 30.
Kemp has raised nearly $12 million since the beginning of 2020. More than a quarter of Kemp's money was raised in the biggest possible chunks — with donors giving the maximum contribution of $7,000. More than 150 donors gave not only for the Republican primary, in which Kemp faces three declared rivals, but also for the general election, in which many believe he will have a rematch against 2018 Democratic nominee Stacey Abrams.
Neither Abrams nor any other Democrat has filed yet to run for governor.
Vernon Jones, a former Democratic state representative who is now challenging Kemp in the Republican primary, said he had raised more than $650,000 since his April announcement. Jones, who has alleged Kemp was disloyal to former President Donald Trump, had not filed with the state as of early Thursday evening.
Republican Kandiss Taylor raised $11,000 in the quarter and had $2,800 on hand.
Kemp is already spending briskly, posting nearly $1 million in outlays. The incumbent is ahead of where other governors were at the same time. In 2013, incumbent Gov. Nathan Deal raised $613,000 in the period and ended with $1.1 million in cash.
Among other candidates running for lieutenant governor, Savannah party activist Jeanne Seaver, the only other Republican in the race, raised $17,000, including a $1,081 loan to herself.
On the Democratic side campaign strategist Kolbey Gardner of Atlanta raised $112,000 and had $110,000 banked. Gardner gave or loaned his campaign $21,600. State Rep. Erick Allen of Smyrna of raised $106,000. Allen, his wife and state House campaign accounted for more than one fifth of the total. And state Rep. Derrick Jackson of Tyrone raised $73,000 including $7,000 from his House committee. He had $70,000 on hand.
Here's a breakdown of other key races on the 2022 ballot:
ATTORNEY GENERAL: Republican incumbent Chris Carr raised $574,000, with lawyers and business interests the biggest contributors. He's got $1 million on hand. Carr has no announced primary opponent.
The incumbent was outraised during the period by challenger and Democratic state Sen. Jen Jordan of Sandy Springs, who took in nearly $674,000, concluding the quarter with more than $600,000 in the bank. Her top donors were largely lawyers.
The 2018 Democratic nominee, Charlie Bailey, raised $294,000 for the period and has $481,000 on hand.
SECRETARY OF STATE: Congressman Jody Hice, who jumped into the race with Trump's blessing, raised $575,000 to pursue a primary challenge against fellow Republican and incumbent Brad Raffensperger, who spurned Trump's efforts to overturn Joe Biden's victory in Georgia. More than 30 percent of Hice's money was raised in $7,000 contributions, including from fellow U.S. Rep Andrew Clyde and billionaire Trump supporter Richard Uihlein of Illinois.
Raffensperger raised $250,000, including $50,000 that he loaned to his campaign after spending more than $1 million of his own money to get elected in 2018. His campaign has $275,000 in the bank.
Former Alpharetta Mayor and Republican David Belle Isle raised $164,000 and had $100,000 on hand.
Among Democrats, state Rep. Bee Nguyen of Atlanta raised nearly $387,000 after announcing her run. Many of Nguyen's 2,100 donors gave smaller amounts, reflecting Nguyen's work at harnessing Democratic outrage over Georgia's new voting law.
Albany Democrat Manswell Peterson reported raising $318,000, almost entirely in unitemized contributions below $100. Peterson said his campaign has been fueled by grass-roots enthusiasm, but campaign finance officials said they will examine the situation.
LABOR COMMISSIONER: Republican State Sen. Bruce Thompson of White raised $250,00 for his primary challenge against incumbent Republican Labor Commissioner Mark Butler, including a $150,000 loan to himself. Butler loaned himself nearly $65,000, giving him $95,000 in cash.
Democratic state Sen. Lester Jackson of Savannah raised $66,000, while fellow Democrat Nicole Horn of Atlanta raised $88,000. State Rep William Boddie of East Point hadn't filed as of Thursday evening.
AGRICULTURE COMMISSIONER: State Sen. Tyler Harper of Ocilla, the only Republican declared for the open seat, loaned his campaign $501,000 and raised $33,000 from others.
Willie Fred Swann of Tucker, the 2018 Democratic nominee, raised $52,000.
Nakita Hemingway, a Gwinnett County Democrat, loaned her campaign $20,000 and raised $1,000 of cash and $5,000 of in-kind services.
Former Lithonia mayor and U.S. Senate candidate Deborah Jackson hadn't filed.
INSURANCE COMMISSIONER: Republican John King, appointed by Kemp after previous commissioner Jim Beck was indicted, raised almost $50,000, leaving him $192,000 in the bank.
Democratic state Rep. Matthew Wilson reported raising nearly $121,000. Democrat and former Gwinnett County commissioner candidate Derrick Wilson hadn't filed.
