Fundraising tops $600,000 in Iowa Senate 18 campaign

CEDAR RAPIDS – Candidates in what was predicted to be a $1 million campaign for a Linn County seat that could change the balance of power in the Iowa Senate raised more than $600,000 a week ahead of a Nov. 8 special election.

Democrat Liz Mathis has raised 40 percent more in cash contributions than Republican Cindy Golding, based on an estimate provided by the Mathis campaign. Her report, due Nov. 4, will show Mathis raised $64,300 from Oct. 15 to Nov. 1 for a total of $127,706. Golding reported raising $42,038 during the same period to bring her total to $88,846.

Golding and Mathis, both of Cedar Rapids, are running in a Nov. 8 special election to fill a vacancy in Iowa Senate 18 created by the resignation of Swati Dandekar of Marion. If Golding is elected, the Senate would be split 25-25 between Republicans and Democrats.

Senate 18 includes parts of Marion, Cedar Rapids and Walford as well as Fairfax, Palo, Hiawatha, Robins, Alburnett, Center Point, Walker, Central City, Coggon and Prairieburg.

The numbers jump when in-kind contributions are included. In the most recent report, the Golding campaign said it received $94,061 including $62,382 from the Republican Party of Iowa and its Eisenhower Club.

Mathis' campaign didn't provide an estimate for in-kind contributions, but reported $292,426, mostly from the Iowa Democratic Party, in her Oct. 15 report.

Mathis outspent Golding in the Oct. 15 to Nov. 1 period $46,500 to $36,652.

The candidates do not file another campaign finance report with the

Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board until after the election. Typically, contributions and expenditures are heavy in the final days of a campaign.