Two months until Election Day, PACs spend big to boost KY governor, AG candidates

More than a half-dozen political action committees have already gotten involved in the Kentucky governor’s race, and recent campaign filings show they’re dropping millions of dollars in this heated election.

The contest between Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear and Republican challenger Attorney General Daniel Cameron has become the most expensive race in the nation this year, with nearly $50 million of advertising announced so far.

Down the ballot, two other PACs have popped up to support candidates — Republican Russell Coleman and Democrat Pamela Stevenson — in the attorney general contest.

Recent filings from the Kentucky Registry of Election Finance give insight into donors to the outside groups and their spending as of 60 days out from the Nov. 7 election.

Here’s what they show:

Governor’s race: Pro-Daniel Cameron groups

Bluegrass Freedom Action, which also backed Cameron in the 12-way Republican primary in May, brought in nearly $1.8 million. The PAC spent nearly $1.7 million, three-quarters of which went to television advertising.

The largest funder was the Washington, D.C.-based Concord Fund, which donated $1,050,000 to the PAC.

Other notable donations include $25,000 from Henry Perot III of Texas, the grandson of billionaire former independent presidential candidate Ross Perot, and $100,000 from Kiki Courtelis, the CEO of Town & Country Farms, a thoroughbred facility in Georgetown.

Kentucky Values, a PAC established by the Republican Governors Association, was funded $8 million entirely by that D.C.-based group which aims to elect and support GOP state leaders.

Of that, more than $7.1 million was spent, with $6.9 million of it going toward buying advertisements against Beshear and another $51,000 toward producing those ads.

Additionally, the PAC has spent $40,000 on polling.

Commonwealth Policy PAC, has raised almost $137,000 ahead of the general election, $125,000 of which came from the Commonwealth Policy Center, a group that aims to influence “elections on behalf of conservative candidates.” The group says it will be active in all the constitutional office races.

Donors also include a number of GOP state lawmakers — Sen. Jimmy Higdon, Sen. Stephen Meredith, Rep. Adam Bowling, Rep. Mary Beth Imes, Rep. Kevin Bratcher, Rep. John Hodgson and Sen. Mike Wilson — in amounts ranging from $25 to $1,000.

Of the nearly $33,000 spent, $28,000 was for mailing voter guides to support Cameron, according to KREF.

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Governor’s race: Pro-Andy Beshear groups

Kentucky Family Values, a PAC launched in July and chaired by Democratic consultant Dave Contarino of Louisville, has raised a half-million dollars from four labor union-affiliated groups: $20,000 from Communication Workers of America Working Voices, $75,000 from the Kentucky State United Auto Workers PAC Council, $200,000 from Better Schools KY and $200,000 from the Kentucky Educators Political Action Committee.

Of that, $350,000 has been spent on field organizing.

Defending Bluegrass Values, a PAC from the Democratic Governors Association, reported more than $4 million in contributions as of this week’s filing.

The lion’s share — more than $2.5 million — came directly from the DGA, and labor unions make up the rest of the contributors. The National Education Association Advocacy Fund gave $500,000, and the United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipefitting Industry gave $400,000.

Additionally, six Kentucky-based locals of trade unions donated, including groups based in Owensboro, Paducah, Louisville, Lexington and Ashland.

Nearly $3.7 million was spent on media and digital advertising, and more than $130,000 has been spent on polling and research.

Planned Parenthood Action Kentucky, a PAC largely funded by the political arm of Planned Parenthood’s national organization, has more than $200,000 on hand to oppose Cameron’s candidacy.

Attorney general’s race

DAGA Kentucky People’s Lawyer Project, a PAC from the Democratic Attorneys General Association, has raised $105,000 to support the candidacy of Stevenson, a state representative from Louisville, in her bid to become the commonwealth’s next attorney general, a seat currently occupied by Republican Cameron. All but $5,000 came from DAGA’s national People’s Lawyer Project.

Of the more than $33,000 in expenditures, most was spent on consulting. The group has more than $71,000 cash on hand.

Stevenson’s campaign has not yet filed its 60 day report, but she did end the primary season with $127,000 cash on hand.

The Kentucky Freedom Fund, a PAC sponsored by the Republican Attorney Generals Association, reported having raised $3,500, all of which came from RAGA.

Coleman, the GOP nominee backed by the Kentucky Freedom Fund, has amassed a sizable war chest. Coleman has raised $969,000 and spent little more than $52,000.