The latest round of campaign finance reports in the Baton Rouge mayor’s race shows that Republican state Sen. Mack “Bodi” White and Democratic former state Sen. Sharon Weston Broome—considered for months to be the frontrunners in the crowded field—continue to dominate in fundraising.
The race’s other major party candidates—Republican Metro Councilmember John Delgado and Democratic state Rep. C. Denise Marcelle—lag far behind White and Broome.
In the latest campaign finance reports, which were due by midnight Wednesday, Delgado reports having raised more than $41,000 during the three-month reporting period, including slightly more than $34,400 in cash contributions. He previously had raised $57,360 and currently has nearly $49,000 cash on hand.
Marcelle reports having raised $17,075, and she currently has $6,304 cash on hand. Delgado and Marcelle had not filed their reports by 3 p.m. Wednesday, when Daily Report published the campaign finance reports of the other candidates in the race.
A look at the reports from Delgado and Marcelle suggests that major donors are spreading their money around, contributing to two or more candidates, which is not unusual in a crowded race. Several of White’s donors also donated to Delgado’s campaign, while some of Broome’s donors also contributed to Marcelle. Still, with 90 days until the primary, the business community has yet to coalesce behind a single candidate.
In what is one of the surprises of the race, no party candidate Darryl Gissel, a downtown realtor and first-time office seeker, is making a formidable showing in his fundraising prowess. Gissel, whose campaign finance reports were reported by Daily Report Wednesday, is outperforming Delgado and Marcelle and has raised more money than the two candidates combined.
Three minor candidates who qualified for the race last month had not filed reports as of midnight. They are Rufus Craig, Byron Sharper and Cade Williams.
—Stephanie Riegel
