SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) - Democrat Hector Balderas holds a more than 20-to-1 campaign cash advantage over Republican Susan Riedel in the race for attorney general, according to the latest financial reports.
Balderas has stockpiled more money than any other statewide office candidates, except for Republican Gov. Susana Martinez, who has cash-on-hand of $4.2 million in her re-election account.
Balderas’ reported a campaign balance of $662,814 as of last week. He collected $47,463 in contributions during the past month.
Riedel had cash-on-hand of $29,407. She raised about $12,000, including a personal loan of about $1,900.
Both candidates are running unopposed in the June 3 primary election.
Top donors to Balderas were out-of-state law firms that specialize in class action lawsuits in securities fraud and other areas. In the past, the attorney general’s office has hired national law firms to represent New Mexico in some litigation.
Giving $10,400 to Balderas was the Philadelphia firm of Spector, Roseman, Kodroff and Willis. The Little Rock, Arkansas, firm of Carney, Williams, Bates, Bozeman and Pulliam contributed $5,200.
Balderas spent $16,681 in the past month compared with $4,419 for Riedel.
Balderas is finishing his second term as state auditor.
Riedel is a former prosecutor and judge from Las Cruces, New Mexico. She was chief deputy district attorney when Martinez served as district attorney in the 3rd Judicial District.
Monday was the deadline for candidates to file reports showing fundraising from April 8 through May 5.
Here are fundraising summaries for other statewide offices:
-Secretary of State: Republican incumbent Dianna Duran raised $25,220 and Democrat Maggie Toulouse Oliver collected $20,005. Duran had a cash balance of $98,969 and Oliver had $95,141. Oil and gas interests contributed at least $13,000 to Duran, including $5,000 from Heyco Energy of Roswell, New Mexico. Oliver received $2,600 from Santa Fe writer Sallie Bingham. Oliver reported expenditures of $20,144 and Duran $3,539.
-Treasurer: In the race for the Democratic nomination, Tim Eichenberg collected $16,158, with half of that from personal loans, and John Wertheim raised $5,695. Eichenberg had cash-on-hand of $39,403, after spending $18,559. Wertheim had a balance of $116,254, after expenditures of $31,666. Republican Rick Lopez raised $1,775, spent $512 and had cash-on-hand of $2,167.
-Auditor: Democrat Tim Keller collected $12,230 in contributions, spent $14,594 and had a balance of $203,414. Republican Robert Aragon had cash-on-hand of $137, but reported no contributions or expenditures in the past month.
-Land Commissioner: Democratic incumbent Ray Powell raised $3,000, spent $1,235 and had cash-on-hand of $46,723. Republican Aubrey Dunn collected $34,100, with a little over half of it coming from oil and gas interests. Dunn spent $408 and reported a balance of $82,242. Powell received $1,000 from the New Mexico Realtors Association political action committee.
-Lieutenant governor: Republican incumbent John Sanchez collected $9,460 in contributions, spent $5,893 and had cash-on-hand of $131,742. Democrat Debra Haaland raised $12,620, spent $11,290 and had a balance of $6,093.
___
Follow Barry Massey on Twitter at https://twitter.com/bmasseyAP
Please read our comment policy before commenting.