Republican gubernatorial candidates across the country now have twice as much money as their Democratic counterparts to spend on their campaigns thanks largely to Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell, who raised far more for the GOP than his Mid-Atlantic rival, Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley, raised for Democrats. The Republican Governors Association, chaired by McDonnell, hauled in $44.1 million in 2011, a record amount more than twice the $20 million raised by the Democratic Governors Association under O’Malley’s leadership. Democrats now have $12.2 million left in the bank compared to Republicans’ $26.6 million.
Both groups doubled what they brought in during the 2007 cycle, the last comparable year.
The gap between the two parties gives Republicans resources for “game-changing investments” in 11 gubernatorial races next fall, McDonnell said. That number could grow to 12 races if a recall materializes against Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, a Republican, as expected.
Republicans, who made significant gains in the 2010 statehouse elections, are again on the offensive in 2012, challenging eight sitting Democratic governors.
“The RGA’s strong fundraising is a reflection of our governors’ position as leaders of our party,” McDonnell said. “While President Obama racks up trillion-dollar deficits and creates uncertainty for the nation’s job creators, Republican governors are making the tough choices to balance budgets and make their states more competitive.”
But Democrats contend that Republicans raise more money, but they point to key victories in 2011 as proof that the tide is turning in Democrats’ favor after a net six-seat loss in 2010. Democratic governors won re-election last year in traditionally conservative Kentucky and West Virginia and scored a key victory in Ohio where voters overwhelmingly shot down Republican Gov. John Kasich’s controversial bill to limit collective bargaining powers for public employees.
“Voters are rejecting the extreme Right-wing agendas of the Tea Party-led Republican Party. They want candidates who will stand up for the middle class, not billionaires,” O’Malley said in a recent letter to supporters.
O’Malley took over the DGA at the start of 2011. McDonnell replaced Texas Gov. Rick Perry as head of the Republican organization in August. Both were named to another term as chairman in 2012.
