Image: From left, former Commissioner of General Services Matt Van Epps. Rep. Lee Reeves, Rep. Gino Bulso and Rep. Jody Barrett. Image Credit: John Partipilo/Tennessee Lookout
By Adam Friedman [Tennessee Lookout -CC BY-NC-ND 4.0] –
Republicans state Reps. Gino Bulso and Lee Reeves, and Democrat businessman Darden Copeland each made six-figure loans to their U.S. Congressional campaigns, financial disclosure reports filed on Sept. 25 show.
The trio’’ self-funding accounts for just under half of the $2.5 million raised by the eight major candidates from both parties ahead of the October 7 primary.
The primary winners will face off in a December 2 special election to replace former U.S. Rep. Mark Green, who stepped down from his seat in July after winning reelection in November. The 7th district encompasses the northern and western third of Davidson County, portions of Williamson and Montgomery Counties and about a dozen rural counties.
In the GOP primary 12 candidates are running, but Bulso, Reeves — both of Williamson County — state Rep. Jody Barrett of Dickson and former Tennessee General Services Commissioner Matt Van Epps are considered the frontrunners.
Throughout the campaign, the four Republican candidates have made clear that they plan to back President Donald Trump’s agenda. The four have collectively raised around $1.7 million.
The Democrat primary includes Copeland and Nashville state Reps. Aftyn Behn, Vincent Dixie and Bo Mitchell. The Democrats all want to serve as a check to the Trump administration and have been primarily debating who is best equipped to win the general election in a district rated as solidly Republican by the Cook Political Report, which provides independent, nonpartisan analysis of congressional elections.
Green won the past two elections for the 7th District by the same margin of roughly 20 percent.
Collectively, the four Democrat candidates raised about $825,000.
As of Sept. 25, around 16,500 voters had cast a ballot in the primary election as part of early voting, which ends on Oct. 2.
How the Republican candidates compare
The four GOP candidates can be broken down into two groups. Reeves, Barrett and Van Epps have each raised a significant portion of their campaign from individuals, while most of Bulso’s campaign is self-funded.
Van Epps has raised around $360,000, the most of any Republican candidate when personal funds are excluded. Reeves brought in around $270,000, Barrett $235,000 and Bulso $55,000.
Reeves and Bulso are neck and neck in terms of overall funds raised, with a total of over $550,000 each. Bulso has put almost $500,000 of his own money into the campaign, and Reeves loaned himself $300,000.
How the Democrats compare
Copeland leads Democrats in total money raised at around $435,000. About $125,000 comes from personal loans, and the remaining $300,000 is from individual contributions. He has raised the most in non-self funds, but about a third of his money has come from out-of-state donors.
Mitchell has raised around $200,000, putting in $10,000 of his own money. Behn raised around $150,000 and Dixie brought in $140,000.
Links to the candidates’ latest Federal Election Commission filings
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3 Responses
Great article. I can not see another better reason to vote FOR or AGAINST a candidate than ‘where’ his campaign contributions come from. EVERYONE, and I mean everyone – Republicans and Democrats – cynically, perhaps, disdain candidates that are funded by some of the dark money organizations that have reared their heads in this 7th Congressional District race. Take a look at your mailbox and all the mud slinging – shameful that any candidate would allow this! The voters know the truth is, PAC’s and Lobbyist’s and their monetary contributions to a candidate, beg the question of ‘What’s in it for you?’. But, here we have the strongest, constitutional scholar in politics in the State of Tennessee, a self made man in Gino Bulso, passionate enough to fund his own campaign. We do not have to guess where Gino Bulso’s loyalties will be when voting. But that is not the case with most of these other candidates who are almost funded by some of these nasty PAC’s and Lobbyist that do not have the voters of the 7th district at hear! And, we know who you are and the organizations that fund you!
My question is why would someone put one million dollars of their own money for a political job that only pays pennies on the dollar? Is it power, kickbacks, or just so much money you can?
GO Jody!!