By Brandon Moseley
Alabama Political Reporter
Wednesday, Chess Bedsole’s campaign for attorney general led September finance disclosures in both funds raised and cash on hand. Bedsole raised a total of $121,750 in contributions for the month, more than any of the other four candidates in the race for Alabama attorney general combined.
Bedsole’s strong September showing allowed him to enter this month with more than $400,000 in cash on hand.
“This is just the beginning,” Bedsole said in a statement. “I look forward to meeting voters and letting them know that there is a proven Republican candidate with clean hands in the race.”
Bedsole spent the last couple of years working with President Donald Trump and U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions, first in the Trump campaign for the White House and then with the transition team serving as senior counsel to the incoming Department of Justice.
Bedsore said, “I have a long history of fighting for conservative values. I didn’t just become a Republican yesterday. My resume is built on hard work over decades, not corrupt deal-making.”
While at the Justice Department, Bedsole worked to rewrite Obama’s executive orders and implement the policies of Trump and Sessions. His focus included securing the border, taking unnecessary regulations off the backs of our military, removing barriers to the Second Amendment freedoms of gun owners and protecting the right to life.
Bedsole’s campaign said that he is also known for his legal work helping to ensure the success of Republican candidates in high profile races. He spent time working for President George W. Bush after initially joining the litigation team on the Gore v. Bush Florida recount.
Additionally, Chess challenged two Alabama recounts, leading to the defeats of Democrats Gov. Don Siegelman and state Sen. Roger Bedford.
“We need an Attorney General with a proven Republican record, who never took anything from Governor Bentley and his cronies. I am the only candidate in this race who can fit the bill,” Bedsole said.
Chess Bedsole began the month of September with a $300,000 loan he gave himself. In September he raised $175,300, and spent $73,434. Bedsole entered this month with $402,070.
Timothy Garner is Bedsole’s Treasurer. His top contributors in September were Jim Besole of Meridian, Idaho $50,000; R.B. Johnson of Hanceville, $50,000; Carolyn Feathergill of Mountain Brook, $10,000; and Jennifer Bedsole of Birmingham, $5000.
Former U.S. Attorney Alice Martin came in to September with $245,348. In September she raised $34,845 and ended the month after expenditures with $271,229 in cash on hand.
Incumbent Attorney General Steve Marshall came into September with $219,595. He raised $83,400 in cash contributions during the month, but spent $29,710 and finished with $273,327. Marshall is a former Marshall County District Attorney. He was appointed by former Alabama Governor Robert Bentley (R), after Bentley had appointed former Attorney General Luther Strange (R) to the U.S. Senate to replace Jeff Sessions (R).
Sam McLure only raised $2,510 in September and has only $3,884 in cash on hand.
Bedsole, Marshall, Mclure, and Martin are all running for the Republican nomination for Attorney General.
Democratic Attorney General candidate James Christie has a beginning balance of $27,305 and raised $3,305 in September. Christie only spent $500 and entered October with $30,415.
At this point James Christie is the only Democratic candidate for Attorney General.
The major party primaries are on June 5, 2018.
