Republican gubernatorial candidate Sarah Huckabee Sanders raised $4.2 million in contributions in the second quarter of this year, including more than $1.5 million from Arkansans, she announced on Thursday.
Sanders said that has increased the total amount of contributions that she has received to $9.1 million from over 67,000 donors and represents a record for the most money raised by any candidate for governor in state history. She announced her bid for governor in 2022 in late January.
Sanders said in a written statement that “it’s clear Arkansans want a leader who will defend our freedom and stand up to the radical left, grow our economy and create jobs, and increase access to quality education and opportunity for a brighter, more prosperous future."
She is a former White House press secretary for President Donald Trump and the daughter of former Republican Gov. Mike Huckabee.
Today is the deadline for candidates for state offices to file their campaign finance reports for the most recent quarter, which lasted from April 1 through June 30.
The other announced Republican candidate for governor, Attorney General Leslie Rutledge, reported on Thursday afternoon that she raised more than $215,000 in the second quarter of this year to increase her campaign’s total fundraising to $1.4 million.
She said more than 80% of her donors are from Arkansas.
“I am always humbled by the continued financial support from voters all across the state of Arkansas and am extremely proud that 80 percent of my donors are Arkansans,”
Rutledge said in a written statement.
Democratic candidate Chris Jones reported raising the most among the four Democrat candidates for governor in the past quarter, with more than $587,000. He announced his bid for governor on June 15.
The other three announced Democratic candidates for governor are Anthony Bland, Supha Xayprasith-Mays and James Russell. Libertarian Ricky Dale Harrington Jr. also has announced for governor.
As of Thursday morning, Bland was the only gubernatorial candidate whose report for the past quarter was posted online at the secretary of state’s office.
Bland reported raising $3,175 in contributions, getting a $750 loan for his campaign and spending $1,893.10 in the past quarter.
This story has been updated. It was originally published at 11:18 a.m.