Alabama’s recent campaign finance reports for lieutenant governor filed with the Secretary of State’s office provide a clear picture of how candidates fund their efforts before the upcoming election.
Each report follows the same disclosure requirements under the Fair Campaign Practices Act, and the numbers reflect differing sources of funding thus far, though it’s extremely early in the race.
Four candidates have filed campaign finance reports. Wes Allen, who has served as Secretary of State since 2023, Rick Pate, Commissioner of the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries since 2018, Nicole Wadsworth, an economic and real estate developer and Patrick Bishop, a retired U.S. Army Major and Cullman County Deputy Sheriff.
Candidates began receiving contributions on May 19, one year before the primary. Since contributions opened, Allen has received $94,300 in total cash contributions from 17 individuals, five businesses and three political action committees.
Allen’s largest contribution thus far was $20,000 from CARE PAC, the Alabama Nursing Home Association’s political action committee. Between a starting balance of over $52,000 and cash contributions thus far, Allen’s campaign account sits at $140,253.47, after filing $6124.70 in expenditures for polling by Virtus Solutions, a strategic consulting firm, and fundraising pursuits by Anedot, a software company that creates donation pages.
Pate, who announced his run for the position more recently than Allen, has received one contribution from “Friends of Rick Pate,” totaling $133,730.96. He has yet to file any expenditures from the campaign fund.
Wadsworth’s initial campaign finance report reflects modest cash contributions complemented by significant in-kind support.
The campaign began with a $20,000.00 balance and reported $125.00 in cash contributions from two individual donors. The campaign received $11,271.19 in in-kind contributions, including a $10,000.00 campaign kickoff video and yard signs valued at $1,160.85. Wadsworth also contributed to her campaign by providing website and email services totaling $110.34 and a personal loan of $2,000.00.
Expenditures for the period amounted to $767.80, primarily for printing services from Wells Printing Company, Inc. The campaign concluded the reporting period with an ending balance of $21,357.20.
Bishop’s campaign finance report shows a series of in-kind contributions largely tied to his own business, Bishop Mediation Group, LLC. The spending centers around typical campaign needs like committee meetings, promotional materials and event supplies.
The campaign reported three committee meetings in May, each costing $261.69. Two separate purchases of campaign t-shirts in May totaled $449.05. Additional promotional materials were logged, including a tablecloth for $368.67 and a banner from Vista Print for $276.88. A voiceover service by Daniel Hill rounded out the month’s activity with a $100 payment.
Most of these expenses appear under both Bishop’s name and his company’s. In several instances, the campaign also documented reimbursements. Altogether, the report totals $1,717.98 in in-kind contributions, with nearly all of it sourced from Bishop himself or his business.
