WASHINGTON -- The seven Republicans and Democrats who ran for Arkansas' U.S. House seats raised more than $685,000 in the three weeks before the November election, according to Federal Election Commission reports.
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The postelection reports cover contributions and spending between Oct. 16 and Nov. 24. House reports were due to the Federal Election Commission by midnight Thursday. U.S. Sen.-elect Tom Cotton and U.S. Sen. Mark Pryor file their reports with the secretary of the Senate, and their full reports were not available Friday.
Republicans maintained control of all four House seats after the election. U.S. Rep. Steve Womack did not have a Democratic opponent.
In total the reports show the seven House campaigns raised $704,310 and spent $1.2 million in the reporting period.
All but about $19,000 of the money raised was collected before Nov. 4.
The four Republican candidates started the last three weeks of the election cycle with a collective cash advantage and raised more than the Democrats. The three Democrats spent nearly $700,000 in the final weeks, topping the $480,000 spent by the four Republicans.
All four Republicans have more than $100,000 left in their campaign coffers. U.S. Rep. Rick Crawford has more than $400,000 on hand, Womack has more than $800,000.
The reports are available on the commission's website at fec.gov
In the 2nd District race, Little Rock Republican French Hill defeated former North Little Rock Mayor Patrick Henry Hays, a Democrat.
Hill started the filing period with $97,870. He raised $212,179 and spent $192,184. He had $117,865 left. He raised $3,600 after the election, mostly from two political action committees.
Hays reported starting the cycle with $185,130. He raised $214,724 and spent $398,391, leaving him with $1,463.
In the 4th District race to replace Cotton, Bruce Westerman, a Republican from Hot Springs, won over James Lee Witt, a Democrat from Dardanelle.
Westerman reported starting the final weeks of the campaign with $153,457. He raised $85,762 and spent $108,072. Westerman had $131,147 left. He hasn't raised money since the campaign ended, according to his report.
Witt reported starting the period with $179,658. He raised $82,613 and spent $241,257, leaving him with $21,014.
Witt's campaign is the only one to report debt. It has $660,629 in debt, nearly all from money Witt gave to his campaign. He hasn't collected any money since Election Day.
In the 1st District race, Crawford, a Republican from Jonesboro, was re-elected over Heber Springs Mayor Jackie McPherson, a Democrat.
Crawford started the cycle with $516,102. He raised $44,695 and spent $138,460. He reported having $422,337 left.
He raised $6,000 after the election. The six donations were all made Nov. 13 and include $1,000 from Poultry Federation President Marvin Childers, $1,000 from Jonesboro doctor Joseph Pierce and $2,000 from the National Telecommunications Cooperative Association of Arlington, Va.
McPherson started the cycle with $48,103 and raised $19,499. He spent $59,104 and had $8,498 left. McPherson raised $4,726 since the election, all from ADP, a payroll company in Parsippany, N.J.
U.S. Rep. Steve Womack reported starting with $825,522 and raising $44,838. He spent $42,181 and had $828,179 left.
Womack raised $4,363 since the election, including several donations listed as being for the 2016 primary election, including $1,000 from Hill weeks after he won his race.
Candidates are required to file with the Federal Election Commission once they have raised or spent $5,000.
Reports were not available for the Libertarian congressional candidates: Brian Scott Willhite of Cabot (1st District), Debbie Standiford of North Little Rock (2nd District), Grant Brand of Pea Ridge (3rd District) and Ken Hamilton of El Dorado (4th District).
Also, reports were not available for U.S. Senate candidates Nathan LaFrance, a Libertarian from Bella Vista, and Mark Swaney, a Green Party candidate from Huntsville.
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