Graphic by Steven Allen Adams

CHARLESTON – Republican and Democratic candidates for U.S. Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives are hoping the money raised during their April quarterly report will help them secure party nominations in May.

Candidates for U.S. Senate and House of Representatives had until April 15 to file their April quarterly campaign finance reports, covering the period between January and March.

In the Republican Party primary for the Senate, incumbent Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., dominated her five GOP opponents in fundraising for the recent quarter, raising $969,998 between January and March and more than $5 million election cycle-to-date.

With only $328,409 spent during the quarter and more than $1.8 million during the election cycle, Capito has more than $5 million in cash on hand, a total that includes donations for both the primary and the November general election cycle.

Capito reported 901 itemized receipts, with around 30% of donations coming from in-state donors. Her filing included $723,308 in individual contributions for the quarter; $246,690 from political action committees; and $38,121 in transfers from other committees, such as joint fundraising committees. These include Capito Victory, One Team Senate Majority and GOP Winning Women 2026.

West Virginia Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Tom Willis, R-Berkeley, raised $41,628 for the quarter and $106,506 election cycle-to-date. After spending nearly $71,900 during the quarter and $159,531 to date, Willis has $89,959 in cash on hand. Willis’ campaign debt now stands at $142,984 after taking out four different loans last year.

His fundraising for the quarter came from $38,128 in individual donations from 16 donors and $3,500 in the form of an in-kind donation from Always Free, a Martinsburg-based political action committee, for the cost of voter data files. The $38,128 total also includes $14,545 in in-kind contributions by Willis to cover the costs of campaign marketing and text messages.

Janet McNulty of Martinsburg, a candidate in the 2024 GOP Senate primary, raised $2,465 for the quarter – all donations from herself – and $2,770 election cycle-to-date, but reported no available cash-on-hand after expenses.

Alexander Gaaserud, formerly of Elkins and now of Parkersburg, has raised no money during the reporting period or election cycle-to-date. Gaaserud took out a $3,000 loan on Jan. 3 and paid the Secretary of State’s Office $1,740 for his candidate filing fee, leaving him with $1,260 in cash-on-hand. Gaaserud lost the 2024 GOP primary for the 2nd Congressional District to U.S. Rep. Riley Moore, R-W.Va.

Bryan McKinney of Inwood has filed no campaign finance reports with the FEC. David Purkey of Fairmont has not filed with the FEC as a candidate at all, but filed paperwork with the Secretary of State’s Office and will appear on the GOP primary ballot in May.

In the Democratic Senate primary, Princeton community organizer and 2024 primary candidate Zachary Shrewsbury of Princeton raised $193,446 for the quarter and $452,701 election cycle-to-date. Shrewsbury raised a total of $197,134 in individual donations but had to refund $3,688. Just under 18% of Shrewsbury’s donations came from individuals in West Virginia.

After spending $196,221 during the previous quarter, Shrewsbury has $8,328 in cash-on-hand. He also has $23,106 in debts and obligations owed to Los Angeles-based Mycorrhiza Digital for the cost of digital advertising and other services.

Morgantown Legal Aid attorney and former Morgantown City Council member Rachel Fetty Anderson raised $18,927 during the quarter and election cycle-to-date. After spending $10,017 during the quarter, Anderson has $15,907 in cash on hand. Of her total, $11,037 was raised from individual donors, with $7,890 coming from the candidate herself.

Charleston resident Rio Phillips, a transplant to the state in 2020, raised $5,237 during the quarter and $12,001 election cycle-to-date, leaving him with $739 in cash-on-hand after expenses. Former Senate President Jeff Kessler and South Charleston attorney Thornton Cooper had no available FEC campaign finance reports.

Congressman Riley Moore, representing the 2nd Congressional District, has no Republican primary challengers. He raised $220,179 during the quarter and $837,082 election cycle-to-date. According to his report, $107,429 came from individual donors, while $112,750 came from other political committees, including Team Riley, his joint fundraising committee. Moore has $713,116 in cash-on-hand with $60,882 in debts and obligations to vendors.

Three candidates are facing off in the Democratic primary for the 2nd Congressional District. Ace Parsi, a community organizer and educator in Morgantown, raised $54,612 for the quarter and $69,092 election cycle-to-date, leaving him with $47,584 in cash on hand.

Retired U.S. Navy Cmdr. Steven Wendelin, Moore’s Democratic challenger in 2024, raised $7,988 during the quarter and $13,966 election year-to-date, leaving him with $4,590 in cash-on-hand. Stephanie Tomana, a public school teacher in Marion County, raised $7,622 for the quarter and election cycle-to-date, leaving her with $2,555 in cash on hand. Of her total, $2,756 came from the candidate herself.

In the 1st Congressional District, incumbent Rep. Carol Miller has one Republican primary challenger. She raised $308,903 during the quarter and nearly $1.4 million election cycle-to-date, leaving her with $729,957 in cash on hand. Miller has $417,993 in debts and obligations, most of which are loans left over from her first race in 2018, as well as debt owed to a vendor.

Hanover businessman Larry Jackson, Miller’s GOP challenger, reported raising no money during the quarter and only $8,110 election cycle-to-date, leaving him with $30,935 in cash-on-hand after expenses. Most of Jackson’s campaign cash comes from loans to his campaign, including a $30,000 loan taken out on March 29. To date, Jackson has taken out $100,000 in loans.

In the Democratic primary for the 1st Congressional District, Logan County native Britta “Brit” Aguirre raised $47,121 during the quarter and $153,409 election cycle-to-date, leaving her with $6,241 in cash-on-hand. South Charleston resident Vince George has yet to file a FEC campaign finance report.

Steven Allen Adams can be reached at sadams@newsandsentinel.com.