CHARLESTON — Since securing the Republican nomination for governor of West Virginia in May, Attorney General Patrick Morrisey raised a massive amount of funds for his general election contest with Democratic Huntington Mayor Steve Williams.

Meanwhile, some Republican candidates for Board of Public Works seats outraised their Democratic opponents but are going into the next three months with less cash-on-hand after winning their contested primaries.

Second quarter 2024 campaign finance reports for statewide, legislative, and judicial candidates were due to the Secretary of State’s Office by Monday, covering fundraising between April 29 and June 30 – a period that includes the 15 days prior to the May 14 primary.

According to his second quarter report, Morrisey raised more than $1.6 million for the two-month period, bringing his year-to-date campaign contributions to more than $5.3 million, leaving Morrisey with nearly $1.1 million in cash-on-hand for the summer campaign season.

“I’m humbled by the outpouring of support my campaign has received,” Morrisey said in a statement Tuesday. “West Virginians are excited to elect an American First governor, who will protect and create jobs, increase our state’s educational attainment, and put West Virginia on the map for business and opportunity while preserving our state’s values.”

Combined with his 2024 primary report showing fundraising between April 1 and April 28, the Morrisey campaign raised more than $1.9 million over a three-month period.

“Morrissey’s record-breaking fundraising numbers tell all: He will be West Virginia’s next governor,” said Morrisey Campaign Manager Jonathan Ewing.

According to the Morrisey campaign, 93 percent of their donations came from small-dollar donations up to $250, though much of the campaign’s large-dollar donations came in after Morrisey secured the GOP nomination on May 14. Morrisey defeated former state lawmaker Moore Capito, Secretary of State Mac Warner, Huntington businessman Chris Miller, and others in a competitive and expensive primary.

Of the $1.6 million raised during the second quarter, more than $1.1 million of that came from transfers from Team Morrisey, the federal Joint Fundraising Committee raising money for Morrisey’s race for governor as well as raising funds to retire his campaign debt from his 2012 and 2016 races for attorney general. Team Morrisey raised more than $1.9 million between April 1 and June 30 according to the July quarterly report filed with the Federal Election Commission.

Of the $1.9 million raised by Team Morrisey, more than $176,000 went towards Morrisey’s 2012 and 2016 attorney general campaign debts; $185,117 was distributed to the Upshur County Republican Executive Committee; and more than $234,000 was distributed to the Blue and Gold Fund, Morrisey’s leadership political action committee.

Williams, who had an uncontested Democratic Party primary for governor, raised $46,010 for the two-month quarter and $81,746 in election year-to-date contributions, leaving him with $52,846 in cash-on-hand. Of Williams’ second quarter fundraising, $26,665 came from a fundraiser at the end of June in Huntington hosted by two former Democratic governors: U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin, I-W.Va.; and Bob Wise. A request for comment from the Williams campaign was not returned.

In other statewide races, Republican State Auditor J.B. McCuskey raised $57,423 for his race for attorney general to succeed Morrisey. McCuskey’s election year-to-date contributions were more than $1.1 million. McCuskey defeated state Sen. Mike Stuart, R-Kanawha, in the May primary for attorney general, leaving McCuskey with $21,134 in cash-on-hand.

McCuskey’s opponent, Wheeling attorney and state Democratic Party vice chairwoman Teresa Toriseva, raised $5,871 for the quarter and $37,019 election year-to-date, leaving her with $1,593 in cash-on-hand. Toriseva defeated former South Charleston mayor Richie Robb in the May primary.

In the Secretary of State race, Republican West Virginia Development Authority Executive Director Kris Warner outraised Democratic South Charleston attorney Thornton Cooper, but Warner’s competitive May primary left him with less cash-on-hand than Cooper.

Warner raised $35,791 for the quarter and $145,905 election year-to-date, leaving him with $6,729 in cash-on-hand. Warner defeated former Democrat-turned Republican lawmaker Doug Skaff, former lawmaker Ken Reed, and Putnam County Clerk Brian Wood. Cooper, who won an uncontested primary, raised $4,222 for the quarter and $15,776 election year-to-date, leaving him with $14,115 in cash-on-hand.

Mary Ann Claytor, a previous two-time failed Democratic candidate for state auditor, outraised state Sen. Mark Hunt, R-Kanawha, for her third attempt at a state auditor campaign. Claytor – who had an uncontested primary – raised $6,175 for the quarter and $14,666 election year-to-date, giving her $5,655 in cash-on-hand.

Hunt raised $4,464 for the quarter and $40,416 election year-to-date, giving him $1,629 in cash-on-hand. Hunt defeated House Majority Leader Eric Householder, R-Berkeley; deposed Jefferson County Commissioner Tricia Jackson; and former Nicholas County lawmaker Caleb Hanna in the GOP primary in May.

Republican Agriculture Commissioner Kent Leonhardt raised $2,770 for the quarter and $239,974 election year-to-date, leaving him with $48,974 in cash-on-hand. He defeated former Putnam County lawmaker Joshua Higginbotham and Cabell County farmer Roy Ramey in the Republican primary. Parsons resident Deborah Stiles, who had an uncontested Democratic primary, raised $2,101 for the quarter and $3,001 election year-to-date. She has $1,064 in cash-on-hand due in part to $5,454 in loans to her campaign.

Department of Revenue Cabinet Secretary Larry Pack, a former Republican lawmaker and senior advisor to Gov. Jim Justice, raised $5,700 for his uncontested race for state treasurer, raising $404,130 election year-to-date and leaving him with $430,843 in cash-on-hand thanks to a $300,000 loan to his campaign.

(Adams can be contacted at sadams@newsandsentinel.com)