NEW BEDFORD — Heading down the final stretch, the five candidates for 8th Bristol District state representative have reported what they've raised, what they've spent and what they have left to win the election.
The financial figures for Massachusetts candidates are collected and posted by the state Office of Campaign and Political Finance.
The candidates seeking to replace retiring Democratic incumbent Paul A. Schmid III are Democrat Steven J. Ouellette, 60, Westport; Republican Christopher Thrasher, 39, Westport; and independents Laura A. Hadley, 39, Westport; Manuel Soares Jr., 62, Westport; Jesse W. St. Gelais, 41, Acushnet.
The figures listed here with the OCPF for the candidates are as of Sept. 30.
Democrat Steven J. Ouellette
Receipts year to date, $8,606.05
Expenditures year to date, $1,607.53
Cash on hand, $6,998.52
Republican Christopher Thrasher
Receipts year to date, $23,827.50
Expenditures year to date, $5,146.97
Cash on hand, $18,779.83
Independent Laura A. Hadley
Receipts year to date, $2,100
Expenditures year to day, $1,529.09
Cash on hand, $570.91
Independent Manuel Soares Jr.
Receipts year to date, $4,300
Expenditures year to date, $1,410.36
Cash on hand, $2,889.64.
Independent Jesse W. St. Gelais
Receipts year to date, $25,948.07
Expenditures year to date, $14,762.18 (the OCPF listing states $22,505.81, but that's because $7,743.63 was moved to another bank account and gets marked by the OCPF twice, going in and out of the bank account, according to the OCPF)
Cash on hand, $11,185.89
The 8th Bristol includes Precincts 2 and 3 in Acushnet; Ward 1 Precinct A and Ward 6 Precincts A and B in Fall River; Precincts 2 and 3 in Freetown; Ward 1 Precinct B1 and C in New Bedford, and all of Westport.
In 2016, 2018 House races, candidates who spent most, won most
According to a 2018 OCPF study, in 80 contested House races in 2018, the candidate who spent the most money won 65 times, a success rate of 81 percent. In 2016, there were 62 contested House races and the candidate who spent the most money won 53 times, a success rate of 85 percent.
Candidates filing with OCPF include those seeking election to statewide, legislative, mayoral, county, district, and governor's council office, as well as city council in cities with populations of 65,000 or more, including New Bedford and Fall River, and state party committees.
This article originally appeared on Standard-Times: Which MA 8th Bristol state rep hopeful has the most money?