Kloiber gives campaign north of $500,000 in mayor’s race; Gorton trails in fundraising
Lexington mayoral candidate David Kloiber has given his campaign more than $500,000 in his effort to oust incumbent Linda Gorton from office, according to the latest campaign finance reports.
Kloiber, who runs his family’s foundation that focuses on technology and education, has given a total of $587,916.97 to his campaign during the general election, according to the latest Kentucky Registry of Election Finance reports filed this week.
He has raised a total of $594,720.97, the finance report shows.
Kloiber loaned his campaign $470,000 from Sept. 10 to Oct. 9, the latest reporting period. He gave $117,916.97 in the previous cycle. He has raised $6,530 from donors.
The first-term Lexington-Fayette Urban County Councilman has previously said he preferred to self-fund his campaign and not be beholden to donors who may want favors.
“I feel that self funding sends a clear message that I intend to serve everyone in Lexington equally, regardless of their ability to participate financially in politics,” Kloiber said in September.
Gorton said she has received donations from people all over Fayette County.
“The distinction is clear. I have hundreds of donations both large and small based on my longstanding commitment to Lexington. My opponent thinks he can make up for his lack of accomplishments by buying the office. I hope the voters disagree,” Gorton said.
Kloiber also loaned his campaign more than $285,000 during the primary.
Other candidates for Lexington’s top job have also opted to spend their own money rather than raise it.
Former Mayor Jim Gray spent $900,000 in his race against then-Mayor Jim Newberry, whom Gray defeated in 2010.
Gorton, according to fundraising reports, has raised $107,366 to date for the general election. From Sept. 10 to Oct. 9, Gorton raised $53,053.00, almost all of which came from individual donors.
Although Kloiber has out-raised Gorton 5 to 1, he’s also spent more as of Oct. 9, according to campaign finance reports.
Gorton has $76,064 left to spend, according to the latest campaign reports. Kloiber has $22,572 less than 30 days before the Nov. 8 general election.
Gorton, the first-term mayor, former vice mayor and council member has a long history of beating better funded opponents. In the 2019 mayoral race against former Lexington Police Chief Ronnie Bastin, Bastin raised more money than Gorton but Gorton easily beat Bastin with 63% of the vote.
The race is nonpartisan.
This story was originally published October 14, 2022 at 10:17 AM.
