Mullet, Ferguson raked in cash in June

But looming PDC complaint could take a bite out of Ferguson's war chest

Two candidates for governor, Attorney General Bob Ferguson and State Sen. Mark Mullet, each raked in north of $500,000 in June, an indication that the moneyed donor class remains split on which Democratic horse to back.

The $510K raised by Mullet, D-Issaquah, who's running as a moderate, business-friendly alternative to the more progressive Ferguson, is perhaps the most eye-opening number. He’s still well behind Ferguson, who brought in $652K in June and has raised some $3 million for the 2024 cycle already.¹

Fundraising numbers weren’t formally due to the Public Disclosure Commission until after we post this morning, so we don’t know how Commissioner of Public Lands Hilary Franz, the other prominent Democrat in the race, or former GOP U.S. Rep. Dave Reichert did in June. (Franz’s people didn’t get back to us and Reichert has only been in the race for a few days.)

Here’s why you should care about this: The folks at EMILY’s List² are not wrong; early money is in fact like yeast, vital to the growth of a campaign. Mullet in particular needs the resources to introduce himself to the many Washingtonians outside of the 5th Legislative District who have never heard of him. We’re starting to get a look at where Mullet’s early money is coming from, and it looks like a who’s-who of business players in Olympia.

Image by Shuttersock