Money in politics: 6 takeaways from the latest campaign finance reports

By Conor Shine

Thursday, Oct. 16, 2014 | 2 a.m.

Updated campaign finance reports released this week shone new light on which candidates and issues money is flowing to this election season.

So far, more than $30 million has been given to Nevada candidates and political groups, according to Nevada Secretary of State records.

That number will continue to rise in the three weeks left before the election and candidates will be required to file one more campaign finance report on Oct. 31.

Here are six takeaways from the campaign fundraising season so far. All figures are from the Nevada Secretary of State’s Office and include candidate fundraising totals from 2013 and 2014.

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  Conor Shine

  Governor leads the way

  Even though he’s not facing a serious challenger in the election, Republican Gov. Brian Sandoval is still raking in the cash. His haul of $3.7 million leads all Nevada candidates for state or local office this election cycle. Other races drawing lots of donor interest include contests for lieutenant governor, attorney general, Clark County sheriff and several competitive state Senate seats.

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  Conor Shine

  Gubernatorial blowout

  Just how big is Sandoval’s fundraising advantage over little known Democratic challenger Bob Goodman? Sandoval has raised $535 dollars for every dollar Goodman has raised.

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  Conor Shine

  Senate showdown

  The balance of power in the state senate hinges on three key races. Republicans will likely need to sweep all three to take control of the senate.

  In District 8, it’s Republican Senate Minority Leader Michael Roberson versus Teresa Lowry. District 9 features incumbent Democrat Justin Jones versus Republican Becky Harris and District 10 is Democrat Marilyn Dondero Loop versus Republican Patricia Farley.

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  Conor Shine

  Big cash in lieutenant governor contest

  It’s good to be friends with the governor. Boosted by Sandoval’s backing, Republican lieutenant governor candidate Mark Hutchison brought in more than $1 million since June, bringing his total campaign haul to $2.4 million. That’s five times what current Lt. Gov. Brian Krolicki brought in during his re-election bid in 2010 and the most any candidate for the office has raised since at least 2006. Democratic candidate Lucy Flores has raised a total of $737,471, the third highest amount since at 2006.

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  Conor Shine

  Margin tax draws big spending from supporters and foes

  The race drawing the most money this election season doesn’t involve any candidates. Instead, it’s a margin tax proposal, Question 3 on the ballot, that has led to a spending frenzy. The proposal would impose a 2 percent tax on gross revenues at businesses that make more than $1 million per year.

  On one side is the Coalition to Defeat the Margin Tax, which has drawn in millions from businesses to defeat the tax. In support is The Education Initiative, which has been primarily funded by the state teachers union.

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  Conor Shine

  Party disparity

  The Nevada State Democratic Party has raised $1,687,786 to support its candidates this election cycle. Their Republican counterparts, the Nevada Republican Party Central Committee, have raised just $301,669 and reported no contributions since June. Much of the Republican money is instead flowing through Sandoval’s political machine.