McGraw
Morrisey
Davis
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (Legal Newsline) - Republican Patrick Morrisey has raised nearly $150,000 more than his Democratic opponent, longtime West Virginia Attorney General Darrell McGraw, according to recent campaign finance reports.
The Eastern Panhandle attorney reported $252,482.64 in total contributions year-to-date in his post-primary report, filed earlier this month.
McGraw, who has held the office since 1992, reported $104,075.29.
Morrisey also raised significantly more funds during the last reporting period -- $79,735.31 compared to McGraw's $10,250.
A bulk of Morrisey's funds -- $68,990.31 worth -- came from individual contributions.
The remainder came from two fundraising events -- one held at Charleston City Council member and Bowles Rice McDavid Graff and Love LLP partner Tom Lane's home in May, and a meet-and-greet at Morrisey's D.C. law firm King and Spalding, also held in May.
As for McGraw's $10,250, almost all of it -- $9,250 -- came from contributions of more than $250.
Of those contributions, most came from beer distributors. The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, based in Huntington, also donated $1,000.
Morrisey also has significantly more cash-on-hand than McGraw.
According to his post-primary report, the GOP candidate has a cash balance of $242,579.87 while McGraw has $96,185.86.
In the state's Supreme Court race, another Republican is leading the pack.
Allen Loughry, a Supreme Court law clerk, has $412,050 in total contributions year-to-date, according to his most recent report.
He is also the only candidate in this year's race to opt into a public financing pilot program state lawmakers passed in an attempt to reduce the influence of special interest money.
Close behind Loughry is Democrat Robin Jean Davis, a sitting justice who was first elected to the state's high court in 1996 and re-elected in 2000.
Davis reported $253,339.18 in total contributions so far.
Next is Democrat Letitia "Tish" Chafin, the managing partner of the H. Truman Chafin Law Firm in Williamson with her husband, state Sen. Truman Chafin.
Chafin, in her most recent filing, reported $208,478.30 in total contributions.
The other Republican in the race, circuit judge John Yoder, reported $9,618.36 in total contributions year-to-date.
Loughry also bested his opponents in contributions for the most recent reporting period.
According to his report, he received $350,000 in funds -- all of which came from the State.
Chafin is the next closest, with $34,877.75 raised during the most recent period.
Of that, a bulk -- $26,600 -- came from individual contributions.
The members of various law firms, including the Peyton Law Firm in Nitro, the McHugh Law Group in Hattiesburg, Miss., and Richardson Patrick Westbrook and Brickman LLC in Mount Pleasant, S.C., made donations.
Other notable donors included the Chiropractors Independent PAC, which gave $500; the West Virginia Optometric Association, which also gave $500; the West Virginia Appalachian Laborers District Council, which gave $1,000; and John Cavacini, president of the state's Racing Association, who gave $500.
Almost all of the $12,640 Davis raised in the last period came from individual contributions of more than $250.
According to her report, various members of the Charles Town-based Skinner Law Firm made $1,000 donations; the West Virginia Health Association gave $1,000, the West Virginia Optometric Association gave $500; and the West Virginia Appalachian Laborers District Council gave $1,000.
As for Yoder, his $1,100 raised in the most recent period came from two individual contributors, one of which is a self-employed CPA.
In terms of cash balances, Chafin is leading the group with $381,847.65.
Loughry has the second most with $351,755.29 cash-on-hand.
Meanwhile, Davis has $46,544.27 and Yoder has $7,668.43.
Davis and Chafin will face Loughry and Yoder in the state's general election Nov. 6 for the high court's two open seats.
Each campaign must file their next finance report Sept. 24-28.
From Legal Newsline: Reach Jessica Karmasek by email at jessica@legalnewsline.com.