MONTGOMERY, Ala. - Democratic challenger Walt Maddox kept fundraising pace last month with Gov. Kay Ivey, according to campaign finance reports filed Thursday, a positive sign for his campaign as he takes on the Republican incumbent in the governor's race.
Fundraising reports filed Thursday evening show that Maddox raised $245,024 in July. Ivey raised $248,523.
Maddox also has slightly more campaign cash on hand heading into the peak of campaign season. He has a campaign fund balance of $313,248, according to filed reports. Ivey has a campaign balance of $271,476.
While Maddox and Ivey posted similar numbers in July, Ivey has a more than 3-1 overall fundraising advantage when including money raised during the party primaries.
This Jan. 9, 2018, file photo shows Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey, who is proposing a plan to let school administrators store guns in locked safes on campus. Ivey wants school principals and other administrators to be able to access a weapon stored on campus. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson, File)Maddox has raised a total of $1.4 million for his campaign, while Ivey raised nearly $5 million.
The cash advantage allowed Ivey to keep a heavy television presence during the GOP primary as she faced multiple challengers from within her own party. Ivey began running a new television ad this week.
The governor and the Tuscaloosa mayor will face each other in the Nov. 6 election.
Maddox is seeking to become the state's first Democratic governor in 20 years. His platform includes a proposal to start a state lottery to fund education programs.
Ivey is seeking to win the office in her own right. She had been the state's lieutenant governor, but became governor last year when then-Gov. Robert Bentley resigned amid an effort to impeach him.
Maddox last week challenged Ivey to a series of four debates ahead of the November election.