The great divide
Unopposed in the Democratic primary, state school superintendent candidate Jana Jones enters the general election with more than a 70-to-1 advantage in cash on hand over Sherri Ybarra.
The fundraising in the superintendent's race has been relatively modest - on both sides.
But Jones has more than $20,000 in her campaign account, according to campaign finance reports filed this week.
Ybarra, the Republicans' surprise nominee for state superintendent, goes into the general election with less than $300 on hand.
This week was the deadline for all statewide candidates to file post-primary finance reports. These reports outline fundraising activity during the runup to the May 20 primaries - and in the aftermath of the elections. The reports offer a window into winning and unsuccessful campaigns, in the waning days of the election.
Jones raised more than $7,800 in the filing period. Ybarra raised only $300 - and $250 came from a single donation, from Idaho Falls Republican Rep. Wendy Horman, a House Education Committee member.
Ybarra won the GOP's four-way primary despite lagging behind in the fundraising race. But the biggest fundraiser in the superintendent's primary, Melba School District Superintendent Andy Grover, finished fourth - despite continued support from some prominent establishment Republicans.
Grover received late support from House Speaker Scott Bedke and House Majority Leader Mike Moyle. Previously, Grover had received contributions from the two chairmen of the Legislature's education committees: Rep. Reed DeMordaunt, R-Eagle; and Sen. John Goedde, R-Coeur d'Alene, a surprise loser in the GOP primary.
In other fundraising highlights:
* Gov. Butch Otter raised $86,738 in May, as he defeated state Sen. Russ Fulcher in a heated GOP primary. Even after the contentious primary, Otter has more than 10-to-1 fundraising edge in his bid for a third term. Otter has more than $450,000 on hand; Democrat A.J. Balukoff has less than $40,000 on hand.
* State Rep. Holli Woodings, D-Boise, holds more than a 7-to-1 financial edge in the open race for secretary of state. Woodings has more than $22,000 on hand. While state Rep. Lawerence Denney, R-Midvale, has raised more than $170,000 in winning a four-way GOP primary, he has barely $3,000 on hand.