Sen. Doug Jones enters the final quarter of 2019 with more than $5 million in the bank as he campaigns for a full term in the U.S. Senate.

Jones, who became the first Democrat to represent Alabama in the Senate since 1997 when he defeated Roy Moore in a special election in December 2017, has amassed almost twice as much cash as any of his potential Republican challengers.

Both parties will hold primary elections March 3, with the winners facing off in the November 2020 general election. Jones so far has not drawn any opposition from within his party. As many as eight Republicans have expressed an interest in seeking the GOP nomination.

Candidates were required to file financial reports by Wednesday for collections and expenditures over the three-month period that ended Sept. 30.

Jones reported contributions of $1.88 million during the period, including $1.63 million from individuals and $259,239 from PACs and other committees. Since his election to the Senate in January 2017, he has raised $8.65 million, including $5.30 million this year, and the campaign reported an account balance of $5.04 million.

Republican Candidates

U.S. Rep. Bradley Byrne is the top fundraiser among the GOP candidates.

Byrne, who is giving up his Mobile-area congressional seat to run for the GOP nomination for the Senate, took in $291,383 in contributions, including $251,883 million from individuals and $39,500 from from PACs and other committees, in July through September. He has reported a total of $866,601 in contributions since Jan. 1, including $682,901 from individuals and $185,000 from political committees.

In addition, Byrne’s campaign has received $2.26 million from other committees, mostly in cash that was left over in his previous campaign for the House of Representatives. His campaign ended the third quarter with a balance of $2.53 million.

Former Auburn University football coach Tommy Tuberville collected $373,275, bringing his total for 2019 to $794,499. In addition, he reported earlier this year a loan of $1 million from himself to the campaign. He had a cash balance of $1.46 million.

Alabama Secretary of State John Merrill reported contributions of $595,582, including $588,582 from individuals, and a bank loan of $250,000. He ended the period with a balance of $738,430.

Other GOP candidates reported these totals for the year: former Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore, $80,118 in receipts and a balance of $34,190; state Rep. Arnold Moody of Shelby County, $541,052 in receipts and a balance of $386,045; Stanley Adair of Haleyville, $287,813 in receipts and a balance of $3,446; John Paul Serbin of Moody, $450 in receipts and a $450 balance; and Marty Hatley of Boaz, no activity.

Unaffiliated candidate Michael Parrish reported raising $5,116, including a $5,000 loan from himself to the campaign; $1,418 in expenditures, and a balance of $3,698.

The next reports will cover the period ending Dec. 31.

Go to the FEC site for a summary of financial activity of all the candidates.