The Candidate With The Most Money Doesn't Always Win

Alex Cameron, Oklahoma Impact Team

OKLAHOMA CITY -- With the midterm election over, political analysts are now looking at money that was contributed to and spent by some of the campaigns, and to what extent was there a correlation between money and outcome.

A week ago, gubernatorial candidates Lt. Gov. Jari Askins and Congresswoman Mary Fallin reported their campaigns had raised just under $4 million each. The victorious Fallin campaign also had the benefit of about a $500,000 spent on attack ads by the Republican Governors Association.

That additional money supported the general rule in campaign finance that the candidate with the most money wins most of the time, and that was the case in several statewide races, but not all.

According to electronic records, Kenneth Corn out-fundraised Todd Lamb $1.1 million to $1 million in the race for Lieutenant Governor, and lost.

In the Insurance Commissioner race, incumbent Kim Holland raised $700,000 compared to John Doak's $500,000, and lost.

Incumbent State Auditor Steve Burrage had about $800,000 raised, compared to just $6, for Gary Jones, and lost.

For State Question 744, the Yes on 744 campaign had $4 million at its disposal, compared to the $2 million the opposition had. Voters overwhelming rejected the state question.