With the top of the ticket dominating all the attention, candidates for the Iowa House and Senate continue to quietly fundraise ahead of November's election.
The latest fundraising reports for statehouse candidates, which were due Friday, span May 15 through July 14.
Four Senate Democratic candidates in targeted districts have amassed war chests topping $100,000 as they head into the final months before the election.
Senate Democrats' funds received a boost from former Iowa gubernatorial candidate and longtime Democratic donor Fred Hubbell, who has given $10,000 to four Iowa Senate candidates this year: Sens. Nate Boulton, D-Des Moines; Eric Giddens, D-Cedar Falls; and Sarah Trone Garriott, D-West Des Moines; as well as challenger Matt Blake of Urbandale.
More: Christina Bohannan, Lanon Baccam outraise Republican opponents in bids for Congress
As the race enters its final stage, the state parties and legislative leaders will also step in with funds to boost their candidates.
The Republican Party of Iowa took in $121,924 during the reporting period and spent $81,390. The party has $867,494 in the bank.
The Iowa Democratic Party brought in $414,330 during the same period and spent $301,005. The party has $361,528 in cash on hand, and $100,000 in outstanding loans from a previous reporting period.
House and Senate leaders typically raise and spend large amounts of money boosting their candidates on the ballot.
Senate Majority Leader Jack Whitver, R-Grimes, does not have to report his fundraising totals this year since he is not on the ballot until 2026. But Senate President Amy Sinclair, R-Allerton, who is up for reelection, took in $12,070 and spent $6,177. Sinclair has $276,260 cash on hand .
Senate Minority Leader Pam Jochum, D-Dubuque, who is not running for reelection, raised $8,110 during the latest reporting period. Jochum transferred $50,000 to the Iowa Democratic Party and has $91,389 left in the bank.
"So far, our candidates have once again outraised the Republicans running for the Senate this year," Jochum said in a statement.
House Minority Leader Jennifer Konfrst, D-Windsor Heights, raised $63,303 and spent $3,029. She has $250,932 in cash on hand.
Konfrst said in a statement that "Iowans are frustrated with politics" and they believe "the governor and GOP lawmakers have just gone too far."
"Iowa House Democrats’ strong fundraising numbers from small donors all across Iowa show Iowans are engaged and ready to fight for their public schools and reproductive freedom," she said. "Iowa Democrats will put people over politics and work nonstop until election day to show up in communities large and small, listen to Iowans, and earn their trust."
House Speaker Pat Grassley, R-New Hartford, raised $162,200, spent $1,625 and has $736,364 in the bank. He said in a statement that Republicans have used their majorities at the Capitol to pursue sound budgeting practices, reduce red tape and grow a strong workforce.
"We understand the importance of raising the funds necessary to defend our talented members, bring new voices into our caucus, and deliver our winning message to Iowans," Grassley said in the statement.
Here's a look at fundraising in 10 key legislative districts where candidates are on the ballot this year.
House District 28: West Des Moines, Van Meter and Adel
Rep. David Young, R-Van Meter, is seeking a second term representing this Dallas County district after winning election in 2022.
He holds a large lead over his Democratic challenger, attorney Laura Snider, in both fundraising and cash on hand.
David Young (R, incumbent)
- Contributions: $28,888
- Expenditures: $4,469
- In-kind contributions: $3,028
- Cash on hand: $150,081
Laura Snider (D)
- Contributions: $5,215
- Expenditures: $3,053
- In-kind contributions: $640
- Cash on hand: $10,892
House District 40: Altoona, Des Moines and eastern Polk County
Rep. Bill Gustoff, R-Des Moines, faces a challenge from Democrat Heather Sievers in this district, which includes Altoona, parts of northeast Des Moines and parts of unincorporated Polk County.
Gustoff holds a slight edge over Sievers in both fundraising and cash on hand.
Bill Gustoff (R, incumbent)
- Contributions: $37,499
- Expenditures: $9,631
- In-kind contributions: $11,407
- Cash on hand: $53,772
Heather Sievers (D)
- Contributions: $30,614
- Expenditures: $2,726
- Unpaid bills: $226.14
- In-kind contributions: $1,953
- Cash on hand: $42,920
House District 41: Northern Ankeny
Rep. Molly Buck, D-Ankeny, is seeking to win a second term in office in this northern Ankeny district. She has an edge over former Ankeny School Board President Ryan Weldon in both fundraising and cash on hand.
Buck received $7,140 from the Ankeny Area Democrats, $5,000 from prominent Democratic donor Harry Bookey and $3,000 from the Iowa State Education Association PAC.
Molly Buck (D, incumbent)
- Contributions: $25,452
- Expenditures: $5,367
- In-kind contributions: $2,295
- Cash on hand: $37,976
Ryan Weldon (R)
- Contributions: $4,537
- Expenditures: $3,529
- In-kind contributions: $0
- Cash on hand: $5,093
House District 42: Southern Ankeny
Rep. Heather Matson, D-Ankeny, will be a top target for Republicans after defeating former Rep. Garrett Gobble by just 23 votes in 2022.
She faces a challenge from Republican Heather Stephenson in this southern Ankeny district.
Matson has an advantage in fundraising and cash on hand. Her contributions include $7,140 from the Ankeny Area Democrats and $2,500 from the ISEA PAC.
Heather Matson (D, incumbent)
- Contributions: $29,493
- Expenditures: $3,051
- In-kind contributions: $741
- Cash on hand: $58,343
Heather Stephenson (R)
- Contributions: $273
- Expenditures: $859
- In-kind contributions: $0
- Cash on hand: $7,449
House District 43: Johnston, Urbandale and Saylorville
Rep. Eddie Andrews, R-Johnston, faces a general election challenge from Democrat Tiara Mays-Sims in this Johnston-based district.
Andrews won a close reelection race in 2022, prevailing over his Democratic opponent 51% to 49%, a difference of about 350 votes.
Mays-Sims outraised Andrews in the latest fundraising period and has slightly more in the bank.
Eddie Andrews (R, incumbent)
- Contributions: $4,920
- Expenditures: $0
- In-kind contributions: $0
- Cash on hand: $19,599
Tiara Mays-Sims (D)
- Contributions: $9,459
- Expenditures: $2,915
- Unpaid bills: $317
- In-kind contributions: $0
- Cash on hand: $25,869
Senate District 14: Dallas County
Sen. Sarah Trone Garriott, D-West Des Moines, has a massive financial advantage over Republican Dallas County Supervisor Mark Hanson.
Trone Garriott has more than half a million dollars in the bank, much of it thanks to a $250,000 donation in March from Warren Stine, the son of Iowa billionaire Harry Stine and assistant director of corn research at Stine Seed Co. Warren Stine has given Trone Garriott $280,000 this year, although he did not donate in the most recent reporting period.
Hanson received donations from two other Stine siblings: $1,000 from Myron Stine, president of Stine Seed Co, and $100 from Lucinda Stine.
Sarah Trone Garriott (D, incumbent)
- Contributions: $42,701
- Expenditures: $12,074
- In-kind contributions: $1,175
- Cash on hand: $515,718
Mark Hanson (R)
- Contributions: $7,725
- Expenditures: $6,290
- In-kind contributions: $0
- Cash on hand: $11,146
Senate District 20: Eastern Des Moines, Altoona
Sen. Nate Boulton, D-Des Moines, has more than $276,000 in the bank as he faces a challenge from Republican mechanical contractor Mike Pike.
Boulton took in $67,501, including the $10,000 from Hubbell. Pike raised $7,600 and has $5,900 in the bank.
Nate Boulton (D, incumbent)
- Contributions: $67,501
- Expenditures: $5,988
- In-kind contributions: $951
- Cash on hand: $276,273
Mike Pike (R)
- Contributions: $7,614
- Expenditures: $3,102
- In-kind contributions: $1,500
- Cash on hand: $5,862
Senate District 22: Urbandale, Johnston
Sen. Brad Zaun, R-Urbandale, is a top target for Democrats this year. The Senate president pro tempore and Judiciary Committee chair faces a challenge from Urbandale City Council member Matt Blake, who has outraised him.
Blake's donations include $10,000 from Hubbell and $5,000 from Fred Weitz, a former CEO of The Weitz Company, a Des Moines-based construction company.
Zaun's top donation is $5,000 from the Associated General Contractors of Iowa PAC. Former Gov. Terry Branstad and his wife, Christine Branstad, also donated $2,500.
Brad Zaun (R, incumbent)
- Contributions: $19,406
- Expenditures: $6,039
- In-kind contributions: $3,833
- Cash on hand: $73,113
Matt Blake (D)
- Contributions: $46,144
- Expenditures: $19,645
- In-kind contributions: $438
- Outstanding loans: $2,000
- Cash on hand: $107,891
Senate District 38: Cedar Falls, rural Black Hawk, Tama, Benton counties
Sen. Eric Giddens, D-Cedar Falls, faces a stiff battle for reelection against former Cedar Falls City Council member Dave Sires this fall.
The district includes Cedar Falls and rural Black Hawk, Tama and Benton counties.
Giddens' $68,000 in donations include $10,000 from Hubbell.
Sires has spent more than $28,000, nearly twice as much as Giddens, although more than $19,000 of that spending came before the June 4 Republican primary.
Sires has just $2,800 in the bank compared to more than $180,000 for Giddens.
Eric Giddens (D, incumbent)
- Contributions: $68,279
- Expenditures: $15,544
- In-kind contributions: $1,698
- Cash on hand: $180,571
Dave Sires (R)
- Contributions: $13,064
- Expenditures: $28,093
- In-kind contributions: $3,835
- Cash on hand: $2,808
Senate District 50: Burlington, Fort Madison and Keokuk
Sen. Jeff Reichman, R-Montrose, is seeking reelection in this southeast Iowa Senate seat, where he faces a challenge from Democrat Nannette Griffin.
All but $2,100 of Reichman's fundraising comes from a $20,000 donation from the Great American Comeback PAC, a group formed by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis during his presidential campaign. The PAC has donated thousands to legislators like Reichman who endorsed DeSantis for president ahead of the Iowa Caucuses.
Reichman had previously endorsed Trump for president, but flipped his support to DeSantis last July, citing Trump's attacks on Gov. Kim Reynolds.
In all, the PAC has given $110,000 to Iowa Republicans, beginning with a previous $5,000 donation to Reichman in October.
After Reichman, Sinclair and House Majority Leader Matt Windschitl, R-Missouri Valley, received the largest donations from the PAC, at $15,000 each.
Jeff Reichman (R, incumbent)
- Contributions: $22,102
- Expenditures: $3,508
- In-kind contributions: $0
- Cash on hand: $50,385
Nannette Griffin (D)
- Contributions: $12,980
- Expenditures: $8,863
- In-kind contributions: $10
- Cash on hand: $19,583
Editor's note: A previously published version of this story incorrectly listed the amount of money raised by Mike Pike. It has been updated.
Stephen Gruber-Miller covers the Iowa Statehouse and politics for the Register. He can be reached by email at sgrubermil@registermedia.com or by phone at 515-284-8169. Follow him on Twitter at @sgrubermiller .
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: See how much these key Iowa House, Senate candidates have raised for their November races
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