NASHVILLE – Aided by a half million in cash from the Republican Governors Association and $50,000 from three close relatives of Republican gubernatorial candidate Bill Haslam, the Tennessee Republican Party’s main campaign fund raised $1.39 million during a period ending Oct. 23, disclosures show.
The Tennessee Legislative Campaign Committee, a state GOP committee, reported receiving $500,000 from the Republican Governors Association in two $250,000 increments on Oct. 6 and Oct. 21, according to its disclosure, filed Tuesday with the Tennessee Bureau of Ethics and Campaign Finance.
That brings the Republican Governors Association’s total contributions to $1.075 million.
In addition, Haslam’s brother James “Jimmy” Haslam III, president of Pilot Corp., the majority owner of the nation’s largest chain of truck stops, gave $20,000 to the Tennessee Legislative Campaign Committee while his wife, Susan Haslam, gave $10,000.
Republicans reported spending $1.65 million, including $255,750 in direct mail benefiting Haslam. Other expenditures included $205,000 for television and radio plus more than $220,000 in in-kind contributions to candidates for direct mail.
Democrats’ disclosure for the Nov. 2 election, which was not electronically filed, was not immediately available.