Crum leads fundraising, spending in Senate 10 race
Crum leads fundraising, spending in Senate 10 race
Gary Crum has raised $37,000, while fellow Republican Keith Kennedy has raised $9,100. The Primary Election on Tuesday will decide which candidate advances to the general.
Three candidates have collectively raised more than $52,000 and spent nearly $44,000 as they vie for an open seat in Senate District 10.
Conservative banker Gary Crum hopes to defeat right-wing ag lobbyist Keith Kennedy in the Republican primary Tuesday, and both men hope for a chance to square off against Democrat Mike Selmer, who is running unopposed in his own party’s primary.
Initial campaign finance reports show the Republicans are spending big while their Democratic opponent is preparing to spend big in the general.
Crum is responsible for the lion’s share of both fundraising and spending in the Senate 10 race, having mustered $37,000 and spent more than $29,000. The majority of Crum’s cash comes from a $19,000 bank loan, but he has also raised more in individual donations — nearly $11,000 — than either his primary opponent Kennedy ($3,100) or the presumptive Democratic nominee Selmer ($3,900).
In addition to loans and individual contributions, Crum has also contributed more of his own cash and has received more PAC funding than either of his opponents.
He has received $2,000 from the Prosperity and Commerce PAC, $760 from the candidate committee attached to Senate 10’s outgoing incumbent Dan Furphy, and $500 a piece from the Wyoming Hospital Association and the Wyoming Bankers Association PACs.
Crum is also netting a much higher average individual donation ($364) than either Kennedy ($171) or Selmer ($133), including a few donations which have been $1,000 or more.
Crum has spent about 80 percent of the funds he has raised, including spending:
more than $15,000 on yard signs;
nearly $4,500 on radio ads;
nearly $3,800 on graphics and website fees; and
more than $530 on postage alone.
Spending big is no guarantee of victory. In 2022, Rafael Delgadillo spent nearly $40,000 on his bid to become the county’s next sheriff, including $35,000 of his own money. He ultimately lost the primary.
Polling places open next Tuesday at 7 a.m. Sample ballots and polling places can be located through the Albany County Clerk’s website.
Gary Crum (Republican)
Raised: $37,014.92
Spent: $29,282.99
Average individual donation: $364
Own money: $2,500
Contribution breakdown:
$2,500 — Immediate family/personal
$10,964.99 — Individual
$760.64 — Candidate committee
$3,000 — Wyoming PAC
$350 — Anonymous
$19,439.29 — Loans
Top donors:
$2,500 — Gary Crum (self)
$2,000 — Prosperity and Commerce PAC
$1,499.99 — S. Carl & Pamela Nicolaysen, Idaho residents
$1,000 — Thomas & Elizabeth Hembree, Laramie residents
$1,000 — Brad Tilden, Washington resident
Keith Kennedy (Republican)
Raised: $9,190
Spent: $11,289.92
Average donation: $171
Own money: $475
Contribution breakdown:
$475 — Immediate family/personal
$3,115 — Individual
$500 — Federal/Out-of-state PAC
$100 — In-kind
$5,000 — Loans
Top donors:
$500 — Cigna Group Employee PAC
$500 — Gary White, Powell resident
$475 — Jeanne & Keith Kennedy (self)
$300 — Jack Settlemire, Laramie resident
$300 — Lyle Hartman, Hulett resident
Mike Selmer (Democrat)
Raised: $6,292.14
Spent: $3,186.99
Average donation: $133
Own money: $250
Contribution breakdown:
$250 — Immediate family/personal
$3,859 — Individual
$1,000 — Political Party
$1,183.14 — Loans
Top donors:
$1,500 — Linda Jane Black, Maryland resident
$1,000 — Albany County Democratic Party
$500 — Peter John Dockendorf, California resident
$250 — Pete Gosar, Albany County Commissioner
$250 — Brett Kvenild, Laramie resident
$250 — Donal O’Toole, Laramie resident