Fundraising is slow in secretary of state's race

BATON ROUGE (AP) — The Democrat running to be Louisiana’s secretary of state has picked up the fundraising pace since she surprised her party by reaching the runoff, but she lags her Republican opponent, according to campaign finance reports filed Wednesday.
Gwen Collins-Greenup, from the East Feliciana Parish town of Clinton, reported raising $22,600 in the latest filing period through Nov. 18. That’s a significant boost from the less than $3,000 she reported raising ahead of the November primary election.
She had $16,400 in her campaign account, according to documents filed with the state ethics administration office, bringing in more campaign cash since she got the backing of the Louisiana Democratic Party, which supported a competitor in the primary.
But Collins-Greenup still significantly trails Republican Kyle Ardoin of Baton Rouge, the interim secretary of state, in attracting donations. The Dec. 8 runoff will determine who will oversee elections, state archives and business registrations in Louisiana.
Ardoin reported raising nearly $131,000 during the latest campaign finance period and ending with just under $136,000 in the bank — including a $25,000 personal loan.
Ardoin pulled in high-dollar donations, nearly all of them from Louisiana. Collins-Greenup reported many small-dollar contributions from people around the country, in states including California, Georgia, Texas, Massachusetts, Wisconsin, Florida, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Minnesota and New York.
Neither contender has much money for major advertising. Ardoin spent money on robo-calls, billboards, Facebook ads and radio spots. With even fewer dollars, Collins-Greenup didn’t spend any money on advertising, instead focusing on campaign push cards, yard signs and car magnets.
The special election will fill the remaining year of the term of former Secretary of State Tom Schedler, the Republican who resigned in May amid sexual harassment allegations.
Ardoin was Schedler’s chief aide and has worked in the office for nearly a decade. Collins-Greenup has a law degree and has worked as a notary, in real estate and in the ministry.