Bird widens attorney general fundraising lead; other races closer, Des Moines Register

Bird has already led Willems in prior fundraising and, as of July, reported $6.8 million cash on hand to Willems’ $2.7 million.

That advantage shows up in reported expenditures for the most recent period, with Bird reporting $7.9 million spent to Willems' $4.1 million. Bird still has $3.5 million in her account, while Willems has about $1.7 million to spend.

Both candidates drew financial backing from their respective national par-ties, although Bird more than Willems.

The latest report shows Bird received multiple contributions from the Republican Attorneys General Association since July – more than $3.57 mil-lion, roughly three-quarters of her total. Willems' contributions from the Democratic Attorneys General Association this period totaled $1.5 million, nearly half of the funds he raised.

The race is likely to be the most expensive campaign by far for the office. For decades, Democrat Tom Miller held the office and was the nation's longest-serving attorney general.

Democratic challenger Ryan Peterman continued his fundraising streak over incumbent Republican Secretary of State Paul Pate.

Peterman raised $184,690 and currently had $185,110 in cash on hand. Pate raised $48,265 and had $41,522 in his campaign account.

Both spent similarly in the most recent fundraising period, with Pate cnand-ing $136,890 and Peterman spending $168,276.

In the race for state auditor, Democratic challenger Taylor Wettach maintained his fundraising lead over Republican Chris Cournoyer. Wettach raised $778,147 and had $683,193 in cash on hand.

He has brought in over $1.7 million in campaign contributions this election cycle. Cournoyer raised $201,970 this period and had $189,603 in her campaign coffers.

She has raised more than $500,000 this election cycle.

In the Iowa secretary of agriculture race, Republican incumbent Mike Naig raised $563,709 and had nearly $146,080 in the bank, outpacing his Democratic challenger Chris Jones. Jones raised $344,494 and had just shy of $65,364 in cash on hand. Naig spent $1,090,333, overshadowing Jones' $377,936 in expenditures during the latest period.