Gov. Branstad’s campaign reports $4.7 million cash on hand

DES MOINES – Gov. Terry Branstad's 2014 campaign war chest got even bigger Friday as his campaign revised it cash-on-hand numbers upward to $4.7 million in filing its latest campaign finance disclosure report.

Jake Ketzner, Branstad-Reynolds campaign manager, said the Branstad-Reynolds campaign raised $312,000 in the last 13 days and was 'debt free” heading into Tuesday's Republican primary election. The five-term governor is the favorite to out-poll Lohrville challenger Tom Hoefling.

The campaign account balance represents the largest ever by a candidate for governor in Iowa at the end of a reporting period, Ketzner, noting it topped the previous high of $4.5 million in cash that Branstad reported having on hand on May 14.

'Gov. Branstad and Lt. Gov. Reynolds are poised to kick-off the general election next week with over $4.7 million cash-on-hand, an army of 2,000 county chairs spread across all of Iowa's 99 counties, and thousands more of volunteers dedicated to leading the entire Republican ticket to victory in November,” Ketzner said in a statement.

'From reducing unemployment by 30 percent, signing the largest tax cut in Iowa history, taking us from a $900 million budget deficit to a $900 million budget surplus, and transforming Iowa's education system to make it the best in the world again, Iowans are be proud to stand with Gov. Branstad and Lt. Gov. (Kim) Reynolds' record of historic accomplishments and vision for the future,” he added.

On the Democratic side, state Sen. Jack Hatch, D-Des Moines, is running unopposed on the June 3 ballot to secure the party's nomination and face Branstad in the November general election.

Comments: (515) 243-7220; rod.boshart@sourcemedia.net