The financial advantage the GOP has typically enjoyed will be evident in the next round of political financial reports, which is Oct. 27, according to Butler County Republican Party Executive Chairman Todd Hall.
“We are not done with fundraising for the year,” he said.
The Butler County GOP will be making phone calls at its Trump for Ohio office that opened last month and at its headquarters in Fairfield Twp.
“With a popular presidential candidate and raising solid donations for both our U.S. Senate and congressional candidates this fall, we are far outdistancing the other side for funds,” Hall said.
The Democratic Party is not under any illusion it can outspend or outraise the GOP, said Butler County Democratic Party Exectutive Chairwoman Jocelyn Bucaro.
“At almost every level, the Republicans have more money than Democrats,” she said. “They have more money because they are the party of big business. They’re just going to have more money.”
But it appears the GOP is without its go-to fundraiser, former House Speaker John Boehner. Over the years, Boehner has donated tens of thousands of dollars to the Butler County Republican Party, but he hasn’t given to the party since 2014, according to campaign finance reports.
Compared to four years ago, the Democrats are gaining ground, according to campaign finance reports. Over the course of 2012, the last presidential election, Republicans received more than $167,500 in donations while the Democratic Party received more than $56,600.
Heading into the November 2012 election, the Republican Party had more than $123,000 to spend on defeating President Barack Obama’s re-election bid. The Democrats had just more than $8,800. Mitt Romney defeated Obama in Butler County, but the president eventually won Ohio and re-election.
The Republicans wrapped up 2012, accoridng to the 2012 post-general reports, with more than $10,000. The Democratic Party wrapped that year with just more than $3,400.
Bucaro said it appears that the Republican Party relies on surges of donations — big donations at the time of big elections — but said, “We’re focused on our mssion and we’re trying to attract steadier donors who are willing to give over time and who are willing to give outside of fundraising events — instead of a one-time donation.”
Miami University Hamilton political science professor John Forren said while Democratic Party leaders see winnable areas in parts of Butler County, to turnaround the political leanings of the county — which means Democrats need to win countywide elections — it starts with “building a bench” of strong candidates.
“Party leaders have focused a lot of their attention and resources on candidate recuritement and training, which are key steps in the direction of building a strong bench of candidates for future countywide elections,” he said.
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