PACs, billionaires and a NASCAR champion: Who’s donating in Charlotte legislative races?

Candidates from both parties are raising hundreds of thousands of dollars from political action committees and individual donors in races to represent the Charlotte area in the state legislature.

Republicans hope to win an additional handful of seats in both chambers, enough to give them the supermajority to overcome Gov. Roy Cooper’s veto. And there’s potential in the Charlotte area, where some of the tightest races are in Cabarrus County, Matthews and northern Mecklenburg.

In Cabarrus County, Democrat Diamond Staton-Williams and Republican Brian Echevarria have each spent more than a half-million dollars. In Matthews, Democrat Rachel Hunt has spent more than $1 million and Republican Cheryl Russo has spent nearly $430,000.

The donations have helped fund the local campaigns and been distributed to other campaigns across the state. Donors have included prominent business owners, politicians and even a NASCAR Cup Series champion.

The latest fundraising report covers from July 1 to Oct. 22. Fundraising doesn’t prove who will win an election, but it provides a window into campaign operations and shows who candidates receive support from.

House District 73, Cabarrus County

▪ Who’s running? Democrat Diamond Staton-Williams, a nurse and member of the Harrisburg Town Council, and Republican Brian Echevarria, who is making his first bid for public office.

▪ Where is it? Concord and Harrisburg

Echevarria’s fundraising

▪ Echevarria has pulled in a total of $780,329 through Oct. 22. He’s spent $646,751.

▪ His biggest donor is the North Carolina Republican Party, which has poured $296,336 into his campaign through direct and in-kind contributions. Friends of Tim Moore, the N.C. house speaker’s campaign, gave $5,600; Art Pope, the businessman and former legislator, gave $5,000; and Mary Vande Guchte and Tom Vande Guchte gave a combined $11,200. Tom Vande Guchte is the CEO of StorrOffice Environments.

Staton-Williams’ fundraising

▪ Staton-Williams raised $889,287 through Oct. 22 and spent $870,242.

▪ The North Carolina House Democratic Caucus has given $646,679 to Staton-Williams through direct and in-kind contributions. EMILY’S List, a pro-choice political organization, has given $5,600, as has the NC Nurses PAC. Former legislator Joe Sam Queen gave $5,500. Billionaire Fred Stanback gave $5,000.

House District 98, Cornelius and Davidson

▪ Who’s running? Republican incumbent Rep. John Bradford faces former Democratic legislator Christy Clark.

▪ Where is it? Northern Mecklenburg

Bradford’s fundraising

▪ Bradford raised $412,116 through Oct. 22 and spent $204,083.

▪ The NC Republican Party gave him $37,157 through direct and in-kind contributions. Friends of Tim Moore, the Independent Insurance Agents of North Carolina PAC and the NC Realtors PAC each gave $11,200. Mooresville businessman Michal Bay and NASCAR driver Joey Logano, who won the 2022 Cup Series championship, gave $5,600. Ericka and Bill Cain of Financial Independence Group in Cornelius gave $11,200.

Clark’s fundraising

▪ Clark raised $497,135 through Oct. 22 and spent $461,899.

▪ The NC Democratic Party gave her $185,296 and the Orange County Democratic Executive Committee gave her $15,241 through direct and in-kind contributions. The campaign for Lisa Ellsworth gave $5,600; and Emily’s List Federal Fund gave $2,500.

House District 103, Matthews

▪ Who’s running? Democrat Laura Budd, an attorney and first-time candidate, faces Bill Brawley, a former Republican legislator.

▪ Where is it? Southern Mecklenburg, including Matthews and Providence.

Brawley’s fundraising

▪ Brawley raised $187,686 through Oct. 22 and spent $163,869. More money has poured in since the third quarter fundraising report, which covers up to Oct. 22.

▪ The NC Republican Party gave $324,452 through the end of October and the NC Republican House Caucus gave $285,000 through direct and in-kind contributions. Developer George L. Maloomian gave $4,500 and Friends of Tim Moore gave $5,600.

Budd’s fundraising

▪ Budd raised $786,313 through Oct. 22 and spent $408,126.

▪ The NC Democratic Party gave Budd $612,049 through direct and in-kind contributions; the NC Democratic Party House Caucus gave $23,012; the Orange County Democratic Executive Committee gave $25,070; and Stanback gave $5,000.

House District 104, SouthPark

Who’s running? Democratic incumbent Brandon Lofton faces Republican businessman Don Pomeroy.

Where is it? South-central Mecklenburg, including SouthPark, Landsdowne and Olde Providence.

Lofton’s fundraising

▪ Lofton raised $199,265 through Oct. 22 and spent $112,725.

▪ The NC Democratic Party gave him $28,720 through direct and in-kind contributions; former Charlotte mayor Anthony Foxx gave $5,200; attorney Kobi K. Brinson gave $2,500 and the NC Realtors PAC gave $3,000.

Pomeroy’s fundraising

▪ Pomeroy raised $180,028 through Oct. 22 and spent $118,636.

▪ His biggest donor is the NC Republican Party, which gave $84,296 through direct and in-kind contributions. Friends of Tim Moore gave $11,200; billionaire James Goodnight gave $5,600; and Charlotte City Councilman Ed Driggs gave $500.

Senate District 42, Matthews

Who’s running? Democratic state Rep. Rachel Hunt faces Republican and cardiologist Cheryl Russo.

Where is it? Southern Mecklenburg, including Matthews, Ballantyne and Carmel.

Hunt’s fundraising

▪ Hunt raised $989,842 through Oct. 22 and spent $1,068,422.

▪ The North Carolina Democratic Party Senate Caucus gave her $438,624 through direct and in-kind contributions. John A. Forlines III, the chairman and chief investment officer at an investment firm gave $5,600, as did Greg Gach, president of Hendrick Automotive Group; Ann Goodnight, the senior director of community relations at SAS Institute and wife of billionaire James Goodnight; and former Gov. Jim Hunt. Former Charlotte mayor pro tem Julie Eiselt gave $500.

Russo’s fundraising

▪ Russo raised $539,747 through Oct. 22 and spent $428,535.

▪ The NC Senate Majority Fund gave her $241,704 through direct and in-kind contributions. Real estate developer Wyatt Dixon, Michael Estramonte, founder and President of Starmount Healthcare Management, and realtor Brenda Thompson gave $5,600. The Northeast Anesthesia Pain Spec PAC gave $5,000 and the NC Medical Society State PAC gave $4,000. Former Charlotte City Councilman Ed Peacock gave $250.

This story was originally published November 7, 2022 at 5:07 PM.

Will Wright

The Charlotte Observer

Will Wright covers politics in Charlotte and North Carolina. He previously covered eastern Kentucky for the Lexington Herald-Leader, and worked as a reporting fellow at The New York Times.