Attorney Jesse Vaughn has raised three times as much money as his opponent, Matt Barton, in next week’s Georgia State House District 5 race.
With support from several current members of the state Legislature, Vaughn has raised $60,405 for the election, according to the campaign contribution report filed Wednesday, the last report before next Tuesday’s election. Vaughn has about $28,000 still on hand.
Staff Photo by Robin Rudd/ Matt Barton, candidate for the District 5 Georgia House set speaks at the Murray County Senior Center. The Murray County Republican Party hosted a meet and greet for candidates running for the District 5 Georgia House Seat on December 20, 2018. The seat was left empty with the death of longtime house member John Meadows.Barton, meanwhile, received $21,876, according to the contribution report he filed Thursday. He still has $8,900 on hand.
About half of Vaughn’s support comes from 15 members of the state House and Senate, including $4,000 from Speaker of the House David Ralston. Vaughn previously told the Times Free Press that Ralston has been friends with his parents for years, and they’ve practiced against each other in court. He said Ralston encouraged him to run for the empty seat after Republican John Meadows died in November.
“It allows me to have some starting points, some access,” Vaughn said of the support from current lawmakers. “Obviously, those folks think a lot of me to support me. That’s something I can use to benefit the district.”