Mathis capitalized on fundraising advantage

CEDAR RAPIDS - A big advantage in fundraising helped Democrat Liz Mathis propel her past Republican Cindy Golding to capture the Iowa Senate 18 seat last November.

In campaign financial statements released Thursday, Mathis reported collecting $22,040 in the waning moments of the campaign for a total of $150,492.  Golding raised an additional $12,965 to bring her campaign total to $99,811.  That translates to a $50,681 fundraising advantage for Mathis.

The freshman state senator used a good chunk of that fundraising advantage to help her new colleagues in the Iowa Senate.  Mathis donated $44,000 to the Senate Majority Fund, a fundraising wing for the Iowa Senate Democrats of which she now belongs.

In kind contributions, non-monetary donations of goods and services to campaigns, show the importance Iowa's two political parties placed on the district 18 race.  Mathis received $573,167 on in kind contributions, all of it from the Iowa Democratic Party.  Golding reported $179,038 for in kind contributions, most of it from the Republican Party of Iowa or herself.

Mathis' win in the November 8th election let Democrats keep a 26-24 advantage in the Iowa Senate.