WASHINGTON — Fourth District Congressional candidate Tom Cotton outspent his chief Republican rival two-to-one in April as they race toward a May 22 primary showdown.
Cotton spent $384,430 in April largely on television and direct mail advertising, according to a pre-primary report filed with the Federal Election Commission.
Beth Ann Rankin spent $183,871 in April largely on television, radio, direct mail, billboard and newspaper advertising, according to her FEC filing.
Cotton of Dardanelle and Rankin of Magnolia were tied in the latest Talk Business-Hendrix College Poll at 38.5 percent each. John Cowart, a Genoa Republican, is also running in the primary. A pre-primary report was not yet on file with the FEC.
U.S. Rep. Mike Ross, D-Prescott, is not seeking re-election in what is one of the last remaining southern seats held by a Democrat.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
Cotton, an Army veteran who served tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, is running for elected office for the first time. But has proven to be a prolific fundraiser.
His campaign had $436,776 cash on hand as of May 2 and has since reported raising another $26,000. Cotton earlier this week launched a new television campaign focused on the southwestern counties in the 4th District where Rankin has her strongest support.
Cotton plans to have his ads running on broadcast television through May 22.
Rankin, who was an aid to former Gov. Mike Huckabee, had $80,127 remaining in her campaign on May 2. She has since reported raised another $1,000 in large contributions, according to FEC filings.
The Democratic primary in the 4th District appears to be a much more low-key event.
Q. Bynum Hurst of Hot Springs spent just under $56,000 in April and ended the month with $84,887 cash on hand, according to his pre-primary FEC report. Hurst has since raised at least $45,800 more.
DC Morrison of Little Rock and state Sen. Gene Jeffress, D-Louann, have not yet filed pre-primary FEC reports. Jeffress ended March with $8,120 cash on hand. Morrison had banked $4,107, according to their first quarter reports.
In other congressional races, the state’s three incumbent Republicans are not facing a primary challenge. And, each held a substantial financial advantage over potential Democratic challengers.
Rep. Steve Womack, R-Rogers, ended April with $315,310 cash on hand. Democrat Kenneth Wade Aden of Russellville had banked $2,082 at the close of April.
Rep. Tim Griffin, R-Little Rock, ended April with $619,095 cash on hand. Democrat Herb Rule of Little Rock had $8,971 cash on hand, according to pre-primary FEC filings.
Rep. Rick Crawford, R-Jonesboro, ended April with $447,206 cash on hand, according to his pre-primary report.
State Rep. Clark Hall of Marvell, Scott Ellington of Jonesboro and Gary Latanich of Jonesboro are running in a Democratic primary to challenge Crawford in the 1st District.
Hall holds a substantial financial advantage over the other two Democrats. After spending $87,815 in April, Hall had another $61,844 remaining in his campaign. He’s since contributed another $52,000 of his own cash for the primary, according to FEC reports.
Ellington, who spent $28,583 in April, ended the month with $12,253 cash on hand. He has since reported raising another $3,000.
Latanich spent $4,590 in April and ended the month just over $3,000 in debt, according to his pre-primary report.