Despite being endorsed by President Donald Trump, Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron posted nearly half of what GOP candidate Ryan Quarles did in fundraising and 3.5 times less than Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear.
Cameron’s GOP primary campaign shows he raised $300,521 in his first fundraising quarter of the campaign from 285 contributors – many of whom have ties to Sen. Mitch McConnell. Cameron has $286,000 in cash on hand.
As Cameron posts, a weak first fundraising return, Agriculture Commissioner Ryan Quarles is showing he is the GOP gubernatorial frontrunner with $570,000 raised from every Kentucky county and more than 100 local endorsements. Cameron started his campaign going national, and Quarles is trying to show he is the choice of Kentuckians.
“The 2023 Governors race won’t be decided by national political figures or in smoke-filled back rooms. It will be decided by everyday Kentuckians who want to make Kentucky the best place to live, work, and raise a family,” Quarles said in a statement announcing his fundraising totals.
Many Republicans in Frankfort are starting to talk about frustration with Cameron running for governor. Multiple sources say there is a disappointment from elected Republicans around him not following through with promises to seek a second term as Attorney General.
There are some in McConnell Inc. that are donating to Cameron’s gubernatorial campaign, according to the report filed with the Kentucky Registry of Election Finance. A few of the names that jump out include Hunter Bates, McConnell’s former Chief of Staff; Neil Chatterjee, McConnell’s former energy policy advisor and President Trump’s Chairman on the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission; Trey Grayson, McConnell’s chosen candidate for the 2010 U.S. Senate race; Steve Robertson, the former chairman of the Republican Party of Kentucky; Holly Harris, a GOP political operative that heads the Justice Action Network.
Other GOP gubernatorial contenders Rep. Savannah Maddox raised $110,000, and Auditor Mike Harmon raised $14,000.
