Riggs raised and spent double what Griffin did in the NC Supreme Court race

Campaign finance reports reveal that Democratic incumbent Justice Allison Riggs has a significant lead over Republican challenger Jefferson Griffin in fundraising and expenditures for the North Carolina Supreme Court associate justice race. Meanwhile, court proceedings related to the ongoing legal saga are underway in both the U.S. 4th Circuit Court of Appeals and the North Carolina Supreme Court.

According to third-quarter reports, Riggs raised over $4.5 million, more than double Griffin’s $1.9 million. Combined, the two candidates have raised over $6.4 million.

“Riggs’ ability to out-fundraise Griffin mirrors Kamala Harris’s financial advantage over Donald Trump, albeit with different results,” said Joseph Harris, fiscal policy analyst for the John Locke Foundation. “Harris’s campaign committee raised $1.15 billion compared to Trump’s $463.7 million.”

In addition to raising more funds, Riggs also significantly outspent Griffin. Her campaign expenditures totaled $3.1 million, while Griffin’s reached $1.4 million.

More than two-thirds of Riggs’ spending went toward media buys, totaling $2.4 million. Her second-largest expenditure was $271,508 for mailing costs. Other notable expenses included $39,406 in credit card processing fees, $35,706 for campaign management services, $28,550 for fundraising compliance services, $22,536 in additional credit card fees, $19,000 for text rentals, and $15,000 each for fundraising, compliance, videography, and campaign services.

For Griffin, the largest expense was $531,023 for advertising, followed by $426,954 for shipping costs related to advertising. The campaign also spent $143,918 on postage for advertising.

Riggs’ financial edge was significantly boosted by a $1.9 million contribution from Democratic sources, including a $1.85 million transfer from the North Carolina Democratic Party. She also received $97,857 in in-kind contributions from the state party, with additional funds from county Democratic parties.

“The $1.95 million donation from the North Carolina Democratic Party to Riggs surpassed Griffin’s total fundraising of $1.9 million,” said Harris. “This level of direct financial support created a fundraising disparity that was difficult for Griffin to overcome.”

Riggs also outpaced Griffin in out-of-state funding, raising $767,869 compared to Griffin’s $38,756. Of Riggs’ total, $728,769 came from individual donors, while $39,100 came from non-party committees. Griffin’s out-of-state donations included $29,850 from individuals and $8,906 from non-party committees.

“Riggs’ ability to raise more than $700,000 in out-of-state funding raises concerns for Republicans and questions the influence of external donors on state elections,” said Harris.

The candidates were more closely matched in in-state fundraising, although Riggs still held an advantage. She raised over $3.5 million in in-state funds, compared to Griffin’s $1.8 million, bringing their combined total to nearly $5.5 million.

In terms of individual donations that cannot be tracked by state, Riggs also led with $155,581, compared to Griffin’s $29,060.

Independent expenditures (IEs) were another area where Riggs outpaced Griffin. She received $3.3 million in IEs, while Griffin garnered approximately $213,000. IEs are not subject to contribution limits but must adhere to reporting requirements.

“Despite Riggs’ fundraising advantage, Griffin’s campaign was more efficient at securing votes,” Harris concluded. “Griffin earned 1.45 votes for every dollar raised, while Riggs generated 0.61 votes per dollar.”

The post Riggs raised and spent double what Griffin did in the NC Supreme Court race first appeared on Carolina Journal.

 

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