Local State Senate race cost over half a million dollars

Campaign financing statements filed with the State of Iowa show that Democrat John Beard and Republican Michael Breitbach spent a combined $526,000 on their political campaigns in District 28.

Final campaign financing statements must be filed by all candidates by this weekend, but both Breitbach and Beard have filed their reports early.

Bear'ds reports show he raised $43,193 in cash contributions for his campaign.  But in-kind donations totaled $294,113.  The majority of that money was spent by the Democratic Party of Iowa to buy TV ads and to produce and mail campaign literature.  When that figure is added to Beard's contributions, it places the cost of his campaign at $337,306.

Breitbach, on the other hand, raised more cash than Beard--$102,110.  The State Republican Party and others contributed $87,478 in in-kind donations--again largely for TV advertising and campaign flyers.  That puts Breitbach's campaign cost at $189,588.

For detailed reports on revenues and expenditures, visit https://webapp.iecdb.iowa.gov/PublicView/search.aspx?d=statewide