In Raleigh mayoral race, one candidate’s raised half a million dollars
Raleigh mayoral candidate Janet Cowell raised nearly 20 times more in donations than her nearest opponent this election cycle, new campaign finance reports show.
Cowell, the former state treasurer, former CEO of the Dix Park Conservancy and former city councilwoman, raised $550,899, the most money of any candidate for mayor or City Council this year.
Paul Fitts, a mortgage lender running for mayor, raised $28,103 and Terrance Ruth, an N.C. State professor, raised $14,967.
The most current filed reports show Eugene Myrick, a community advocate, raised $8.873. and James Shaughnessy, a law student, raised $4,798.
Cowell also spent the most this election cycle, $506,813, while Fitts spent $9,578.
Myrick spent $11,592, Ruth spent $15,404 and Shaughnessy spent $4,601, according to their reports.
How reporting works
Once Raleigh City Council candidates officially file to run for office, in July, they are required to report campaign finances on a schedule.
The first, the mid-year report, shows money raised from January to June. (There is also a mid-year and year-end report for 2023 for candidates who have raised money before the filing period.)
The second filing, the 35-day report, is filed 35 days before Election Day and shows money raised from June to the end of September.
A pre-election report is filed to the county and state Board of Elections about two weeks before Election Day which falls on Nov. 5 this year.
The filings are all self-reported, according to a spokesperson with the Wake County Board of Elections. Candidates can use software on the BOE website to report the figures but this is only required once a campaign reaches $10,000. Candidates who raise less than this can file the reports by hand.
Here are the fundraising and spending totals for candidates for the council’s seven remaining seats, not including the mayor.
At-large
Both at-large seats are open this year and incumbent Jonathan Melton raised the most this election, $187,998, according to his report. He also spent the most, $66,452.
Fellow incumbent Stormie Forte raised $74,000 and spent $57,525, her report shows.
Candidate Reeves Peeler, a city planning commissioner, raised $25,490 and spent $13,740, according to his latest report.
Small business owner Katie Pate raised $6,210 and spent $1,170 spent. James Bledsoe raised $4,106 and spent $3,930, and Joshua Bradley raised $2,486 and spent $269.
Robert Steele filed two reports for 2023 showing a total of $2,475 raised and spent $1,286.
District A
Urban planner Mitchell Silver raised $130,122, about 20 times more than first-term incumbent Mary Black, who raised $6,302 .
Silver spent $22,526, while Black spent $10,722, according to their reports.
Whitney Hill raised $7,550 and spent $6,609.
District B
Incumbent Megan Patton, elected in 2022, raised $15,430, and spent $20,294.
Jennifer McCullom, a corporate account manager, raised $4,294 and spent $2,331.
District C
Incumbent Corey Branch, who initially announced he would run for mayor, raised $49,535 and spent $38,273.
The remaining candidates in this district filed reports by hand. The News & Observer totaled those reports to report the following figures.
Jared Ollison raised $10,532 and spent $9,114.64.
Portia Rochelle raised $7,514 and spent $4,670.
Tolulope Omokaiye raised $5,355 and spent $3,652.
DaQuanta Copeland raised $2,348 and spent $3,296.
Records show Daniel Grant-King did not report raising or spending any money this election cycle.
Tomara DeCosta did not file any campaign finance reports this election cycle.
District D
Incumbent Jane Harrison, elected in 2022, raised $48,457 and spent $4,222. She is running unopposed.
District E
Consultant John Cerqueira raised $172,220 and spent $145,448.
Incumbent Christina Jones, elected in 2022, raised $30,522 and spent $10,592.
This story was originally published November 2, 2024 at 3:19 PM.