2022 Elections

Britt Dominates in Fundraising for U.S. Senate Race

Katie Boyd Britt. Source: U.S. Chamber of Commerce

Updates with report for GOP candidate Jessica Taylor

Katie Boyd Britt, former chief of staff to U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby, holds a huge fundraising advantage over U.S. Rep. Mo Brooks and three other candidates for the Republican nomination to succeed Shelby in Alabama’s 2022 GOP primary election, according to reports filed Friday with the Federal Elections Commission.

Brooks, who is giving up his 5th District seat after five terms representing the Tennessee Valley area, held a commanding lead in recent polls and has been endorsed by former President Donald Trump.

In financial reports for the three-month period ended Sept. 31, Britt listed $1.53 million in net contributions during the period and $3.76 million since she resigned as president and CEO of the Business Council of Alabama and entered the race during the summer.

She reported expenditures of $394,448 during the quarter and had a cash balance of $3.34 million at the end of September.

Brooks reported net contributions of $663,074 during the three-month period and a total of $1.79 million overall. He listed expenditures of $507,623 and an account balance of $1.86 million. He had entered the race with $1.1 million left over from previous campaigns for the House of Representatives.

Montgomery business executive Lynda Blanchard, who served as Trump’s ambassador to Slovenia, reported contributions of $1,958 but listed refunds of $12,100 for a net of minus $10,142 during the quarter. She made loans totaling $5.11 million to her campaign earlier this year and ended September with a cash balance of $4.51 million.

Blanchard is co-founder of real estate investment management company B&M Management.

Another declared candidate for the GOP nomination, Jessica Taylor of Birmingham, reported contributions of 150,849 and expenditures of $81,509 and had an account balance of $68,339 at the end of the quarter. She had not filed reports with the FEC for previous quarters.

Jacob Marc Schafer reported contributions of $3,000 and a cash balance of the same amount.

Shelby, who has served in the Senate since 1987, announced earlier this year that he will retire at the end of his sixth term. The Republican primary for that seat will be May 24, 2022, with the general election on Nov. 8.

The only Democrat to file as a candidate so far is Brandaun Dean, former mayor of Brighton. He registered with the FEC two years ago and has reported no financial activity.

A poll in August by Alabama Daily News showed Brooks with the support of 40.8% of likely Republican voters. Britt had 17.7%, and almost one-third of the respondents said they were undecided.

Brooks and Blanchard have courted Trump supporters since joining the race. Brooks delivered a fiery speech to a crowd in Washington shortly before the Jan. 6 insurrection at the Capitol. Shelby is reported to be backing Britt, who has said she “won’t be a rubber stamp for anyone.”