Incumbents see steady contributions

Three of Arkansas' four incumbent U.S. representatives raised nearly identical amounts of campaign contributions during the third quarter, according to documents filed with the Federal Election Commission on Monday.

Challengers to two of them also filed reports. Not all campaigns filed finance reports by the Monday deadline. The reports for 2nd District U.S. Rep. French Hill, a Republican from Little Rock, and his Democratic challenger, state Rep. Clarke Tucker of Little Rock, had not yet been posted on the agency's website early Monday evening.

However, Hill's campaign released his contributions and spending Monday evening. His campaign raised $595,367.50 and spent $761,357.06 in the third quarter. He had cash on hand of $1,464,067.48. Total raised for the campaign was $2,551,652.9 and total spent was $1,798,702.25.

Reports submitted electronically are considered on time as long as they are received and validated by 11:59 p.m. EDT. Reports sent via overnight mail will be accepted today as well.

Third District U.S. Rep. Steve Womack raised $200,670 between July 1 and Sept. 30. The Republican from Rogers, whose district includes most of Northwest Arkansas' Interstate 49 corridor and other, less populated areas, spent $263,497. His campaign reported cash on hand of nearly $1.2 million. Figures for his Democratic opponent, Josh Mahony of Fayetteville, hadn't been posted early Monday evening.

In the 1st District, which covers northeast Arkansas and a string of counties bordering the Mississippi River, U.S. Rep. Rick Crawford raised $200,388 during the period and spent $93,936, leaving his campaign with cash on hand of $468,755. The Jonesboro Republican's Democratic challenger, educator Chintan Desaiof Helena-West Helena, reported contributions of $53,158 and expenditures of $33,306, leaving his campaign with $25,758.

In the 4th District, which includes southwest Arkansas, Pine Bluff and a sparsely populated slice of Northwest Arkansas, U.S. Rep. Bruce Westerman raised $194,679 and spent $153,563 during the quarter. The Republican from Hot Springs had slightly more than $1 million in his campaign coffers at month's end. Democratic challenger Hayden Shamel, a teacher from Hot Springs, raised $44,800 during the quarter and had expenditures totaling $40,070. Her campaign finished the quarter with $24,020 in the bank.

U.S. Sen. Tom Cotton, who is up for re-election in 2020, reported campaign contributions of $134,257 and expenditures of $87,528. His Senate campaign committee had almost $2 million cash on hand and also debts and obligations totaling $92,981.

The campaigns are required to file additional financial reports later this month. The next filing deadline is Oct. 25. The general election is Nov. 6.

Metro on 10/16/2018