Former congressman Landry leads AG fundraising

BATON ROUGE — Former Congressman Jeff Landry is outpacing incumbent Buddy Caldwell in fundraising for this fall’s attorney general’s race, according to the latest campaign finance reports filed Monday.
Landry’s campaign reported having twice as much in his account as his fellow Republican. The lawyer from New Iberia raised $442,000 in the reporting period from Jan. 1 through April 17 and loaned his campaign $350,000. He reported $1.3 million in his account.
Caldwell, in his second term, reported raising $369,000 and ending the period with $617,000 in his account for the Oct. 24 election.
A third Republican contender, Port Allen attorney Marty Maley, filed a fundraising report that showed $59,000 raised in the latest quarter — including a $9,300 personal loan. He closed the period with $66,000 in his account.
Reports were due to the state ethics board Monday.
Another highly competitive race involves the lieutenant governor’s seat, which is open because Republican Jay Dardenne is running for governor.
Jefferson Parish President John Young, a Republican, reported the most money in the bank for the lieutenant governor’s race, with $2 million in his campaign account at the end of the fundraising period after raising nearly $348,000 during the period.
Fellow GOP contender Billy Nungesser, a former Plaquemines Parish president who lost a previous bid for the position, reported raising nearly $127,000 in the quarter and ending with $1.1 million. He’s previously kicked in some money himself.
Far behind the two Republican candidates is Baton Rouge Mayor Kip Holden, a Democrat who drew in $15,000 so far this year and wrapped up the quarter with a little more than $32,000 cash on hand.
Republican state Sen. Elbert Guillory of Opelousas also has said he intends to run for lieutenant governor, but his campaign finance report wasn’t online by Monday evening.
In other filings for statewide races:
— Secretary of State Tom Schedler, a Republican, reported raising $34,000 and ending the period with $342,000 in the bank. A report from Democratic challenger Chris Tyson, a law professor, hadn’t been filed online by Monday evening.
— Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon, a Republican, said he took in more than $60,000 and closed the period with $456,000 cash on hand. Challenger Matt Parker reported nearly $49,000 in contributions and just under $16,000 cash on hand.
— Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain, a Republican, reported taking in $38,000 in contributions and wrapping up the period with $469,000 in the bank.
— Treasurer John Kennedy, a Republican, raised $152,000 and reported $3.5 million cash on hand.
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