Schatz Has $3M In Campaign Cash
The U.S. senator has yet to draw an official competitor in his re-election race this year.
Brian Schatz has $3 million in cash on hand for his 2016 re-election campaign — a formidable amount, politically speaking.
The U.S. senator, a Democrat, raised over a half a million dollars in the first quarter of the year, according to the . He reported just over $100,000 in campaign expenses.
Schatz, who is running for a six-year term, has officially filed to run. His contributors include the Alexander & Baldwin Fedpac ($5,000) and many A&B executives, such as Chris Benjamin ($2,500).
Nine other potential Senate candidates have pulled papers, but none have yet filed and none are well-known to most voters. Most are also-rans for offices in previous years.
U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, also a Democrat, has $1.6 million in cash and reported receipts of $143,359 in Q1. Contributors include Unite Here Tip Campaign Committee ($5,000) and her parents, Mike and Carol Gabbard ($2,700 each).
Gabbard has pulled papers but not yet filed to run. One Republican has pulled papers in that race, too.
Democratic colleague Mark Takai has $662,309 in cash and $256,986 in receipts. Contributors include Hawaii Business Round Table executive director Gary Kai (who is also Takai’s father in law) and the American Crysal Sugar Company PAC of Moorhead, Minn. ($5,000).
A Republican, a Libertarian and several Democrats have pulled papers to challenge Takai, but only one — Democrat Javier Ocaso — has filed officially, as has the incumbent.
U.S. Sen. Mazie Hirono, a Democrat, does not face re-election until 2018. She has raised very little money and has $496,015 in cash on hand. Contributors include General Dynamic Corp. PAC ($5,000).
