State Rep. K. Mark Takai led all Democrats in fundraising for the most recent quarter in the race for the 1st Congressional District, but state Sen. Donna Mercado Kim has the lead in cash on hand for the stretch run of the campaign.
Kim, the state Senate president, reported Tuesday that she raised $201,000 in the last three months, compared with $212,000 raised by Takai, and has $582,000 for the final weeks leading up to the Aug. 9 Democratic primary. For the two-year campaign cycle, Kim has raised $783,000. Takai has $354,093 on hand.
"We have a game plan, obviously, and we have our budget set for our media and we’ll be using a good amount of it," Kim said. "We’re pleased we have a good cash on hand, and we have almost raised $800,000 so we’re meeting our goals on that."
Quarterly financial reports were due with the Federal Election Commission on Tuesday.
Takai, City Councilman Joey Manahan and Republican Charles Djou (who had more than Kim and Takai combined for the quarter with $434,000), reported their figures earlier. Djou had told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser his total was $435,000, as reported in Tuesday’s story, but his actual total is $434,000.
Kim’s quarterly take comes in a crowded field of seven Democrats, presumably competing among the same donors.
At least one political analyst sees the two top contenders in the race taking in a big chunk of the donations.
"I think (the race) remains Kim’s to lose and Mark’s to challenge here — I don’t really see anyone playing in this," said John Hart, a communications professor at Hawaii Pacific University. "Stanley (Chang) has certainly showed the ability to raise money, but I don’t see that translating into full support.
"Obviously, wise ad spends and media positioning could help quite a lot."
Chang, a Honolulu City Council member, reported Tuesday that he raised $145,000 for the quarter and has a total haul of $700,000 for the campaign cycle. He has $173,000 in cash on hand.
"Our most recent report shows that we have strong momentum heading into the home stretch of this campaign," Chang said in a statement. "Voters are responding enthusiastically to our message of change and we are in a good position to maintain our outreach efforts through Election Day."
Also Tuesday, Honolulu City Councilman Ikaika Anderson said he raised $85,000 for the quarter and has amassed $420,000 for the campaign cycle. He has 125,000 in cash on hand.
"We are humbled to have raised a significant amount of resources during this campaign; resources which have allowed us to take our message to the voters on the street and now to the air waves with our latest TV spot," Anderson said in a statement. "For the remainder of this campaign, I am focused on earning the trust and vote of Hawaii’s people."
Human rights advocate Kathryn Xian reported Tuesday she raised $2,400 in the quarter, bringing her total for the campaign period to $13,000 with $5,000 cash on hand.
Xian has publicly voiced her opposition to money from some corporate sectors, such as the biotech industry, and stressed the grass-roots nature of her campaign.
"For people who support me, I am sensitive to the fact that they struggle very hard every day just to make ends meet, and I believe nobody should have to pay to make their voice heard in government," she said.
State Sen. Will Espero’s spending report was not immediately available Tuesday.
The candidates are vying to succeed U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa, who is vacating her 1st Congressional District (urban Honolulu) seat in Congress for a chance at the U.S. Senate.
