WASHINGTON — Republican Tom Cotton was the top money-raiser among Arkansas congressional candidates during the first three months of the year, campaign finance reports show.
Cotton raised $352,504 in his bid for the 4th District seat now held by retiring U.S. Rep. Mike Ross, D-Prescott, during the first quarter of 2012. Beth Anne Rankin, a Magnolia Republican, raised $127,236, in her bid for the same open seat.
Republican John Cowart, a former Marine, is also running in the 4th district. He raised $22,984 in the quarter, according to documents filed with the Federal Election Commission.
Among Democrats vying in the 4th District, Hot Springs lawyer Q. Byrum Hurst raised $102,489. State Sen. Gene Jeffress of Louann had not filed an FEC quarterly report as of today. The reports were due Sunday if candidates raised or spent more than $5,000.
U.S. Rep. Rick Crawford, R-Jonesboro, was the top money raiser among the three Arkansas incumbents seeking re-election.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
Crawford raised $239,371, Rep. Tim Griffin, R-Little Rock, raised $225,726 and Rep. Steve Womack, R-Rogers, raised $86,877 during the first quarter, according to FEC filings.
Three Democrats are seeking to challenge Crawford. State Rep. Clark Hall of Marvell raised $98,828 during the quarter. Prosecutor Scott Ellington of Jonesboro raised $19,955 and Gary Latanich, an economics professor at Arkansas State University, raised $18,894.
Little Rock lawyer Herb Rule, a Democrat who is challenging Griffin in the 2nd District, had not filed a quarterly FEC report Monday.
Democrat Ken Aden, who is challenging Womack in the 3rd District, said his campaign raised $37,894 during the first quarter of 2012. His report was not immediately available at the FEC.
Cotton also ranked first among Arkansas congressional candidates in terms of cash on hand.
His campaign ended March with $638,224 in its treasury. Griffin was second at $577,867 followed by Crawford at $459,660; Womack at $289,245; Rankin at $234,818, Hall at $130,258 and Hurst at $95,310.