With less than a month before early voting begins for Rhode Island state and local primaries, candidates are pounding the pavement and packing in the public events in the hopes of gaining voters’ support — and potentially, donations.
Second-quarter campaign finance reports were due to the Rhode Island Board of Elections by 11:59 p.m. on July 31. Here’s a look at how state general office candidates fared in fundraising and spending during the three-month period that ended June 30. Candidates who are participating in the Sept. 9 primary will have to file two more campaign reports before voting day: one on Aug. 12, reflecting donations and fundraising from July 1 to Aug. 11; and a second on Sept. 2, reflecting donations and fundraising from Aug. 12 to Sept. 1.
Early voting begins Aug. 20.
Governor’s race
Democratic challenger Helena Buonanno Foulkes continues to outraise Gov. Dan McKee, with more than four times the cash on hand, though that includes a $1.8 million loan balance from several years ago. Independent Ken Block bolstered his first quarter of fundraising with a $10,250 personal loan. Republicans Aaron Guckian and Elaine Pelino brought in just over $11,000 between them, with Pelino spending less than 10% of the $61,000 Guckian reported in campaign expenditures…