Todd Nash has closed the funding gap in the Republican primary race for the open Senate District 29 seat, and he’s done so without loaning money to his campaign.

Nash, a cattle rancher and Wallowa County commissioner, has reported raising cash contributions of $71,422.89 in 2023 and $59,253.24 in 2024, for a total of $130,676.13, with $28,158.92 coming in during just the first two weeks of May.

Hermiston Mayor Dave Droztmann is in the No. 2 spot, with cash contributions of $43,295 for 2023 and $50,169.66 for 2024, for a total of $93,464.66. Droztmann, an optometrist, also has loaned his campaign $75,000.

The figures are from the Oregon Secretary of State’s database for reporting political campaign finances.

In the fall of 2023, Drotzmann estimated it would take about $200,000 to win the Senate District 29 seat, and Nash said he figured it would take more than $100,000.

Both campaign committees also reported in-kind donations and expense of a few thousand dollars each.

Jim Doherty, former Morrow County commissioner, and Andy Huwe, of Enterprise, also are in the race for the seat after Bill Hansell, of Athena, opted not to seek a fourth term.

Big contributors

The Jobs Political Action Committee on May 9 gave Nash’s campaign its biggest cash contribution yet, $7,500. The campaign’s next three largest donations were in 2023 of $5,000 each from Vernam Crane Service Inc., of Enterprise, James Kennedy, chair emeritus of Cox Enterprises, in Atlanta, and Greg Barreto, now of Horseshoe Bend, Idaho, the chief operating officer of Barreto Manufacturing Inc. in La Grande and former Oregon House District 58 representative.

Droztmann’s biggest donors have been the Oregon Optometric Public Affairs Council, the Clean Energy for Oregon PAC and the Coalition for a Healthy Oregon PAC with contributions of $5,000 each.

Individuals and businesses in the district also have made sizable contributions to his campaign. Catherine Barnett, of Hermiston, has given $3,834.66 in all. North Powder rancher Jim Wilson has contributed $3,750. And Bellinger Produce LLC, of Hermiston, has given $3,000.

The spending side

Drotzmann has reported outspending his competition, with cash expenditures of $60,899.41 in 2023 and $77,205.25 in 2024, for a total of $138,104.66.

His campaign has spent more than $50,000 with Pacific Northwest Communications for campaign management, materials, polls and surveys. He also spent $14,451.98 on political consultant Sam Evans, of Roseburg.

Nash has gained on the spending front as well. He has reported cash expenditures of $43,599.13 for 2023 and $71,118.36 in 2024, for a total of $114,717.49.

Nash is employing the political strategy and campaign management firm Tweed Strategies LLC, of Portland, and it’s his campaign’s top expense at more than $55,000. He also has paid almost $17,000 to Gateway Communications Inc., of Portland, to produce and mail campaign brochures and the like.

The rest of the race

Doherty comes in third in campaign finances, and Huwe a distant last.

Doherty has reported total cash contributions of $23,788.35 in 2023 and $16,050 for 2024. He also has loaned his campaign $61,000.

His campaign has reported cash expenditures of $25,972.66 in 2023 and $49,772.41 in 2024 for a total of $75,745.07.

Huwe for 2023 and 2024 has reported cash contributions of less than $1,000 and cash expenditures of about $1,030.

Nash’s campaign has an ending cash balance for this year of $27,913.76, while Drotzmann reported $30,110.

Election Day is Tuesday, May 21.

Jobs Political Action Committee — $7,500

Vernam Crane Service Inc., of Enterprise, — $5,000

James Kennedy, chair emeritus of Cox Enterprises, in Atlanta — $5,000

Greg Barreto, chief operating officer of Barreto Manufacturing Inc. in La Grande — $5,000

Oregon Food Political Action Committee — $3,000

Oregon Optometric Public Affairs Council — $5,000

Clean Energy for Oregon PAC — $5,000

Coalition for a Healthy Oregon PAC — $5,000

Catherine Barnett, of Hermiston — $3,834.66

Jim Wilson, of North Powder — $3,750