These North Carolina State Senate candidates raised the most money and lost

By

Kalyn Stralow

Elections for all 50 seats in the North Carolina State Senate took place on Nov. 8, 2022. Republicans held a 28-22 majority heading into the election.

This article details the five candidates who raised the most money and lost their election. In the 2022 election cycle, 37 of 50 general elections were contested. The losing candidates are shown along with the percentage of the vote they received compared to the winner. In cases where the race was pushed to a runoff, vote percentages for both advancing candidates are included.

State Senate candidates who raised the most money and lost their general election

This information comes from candidate reports to the North Carolina State Board of Elections (NCSBE) covering the period of Jan. 1, 2021, through Oct. 22, 2022.

The candidates who raised the most money and lost their election were:

  • Wesley Meredith – $747,408 – District 19 (Lost general 48% – 52%)
  • Mark Speed – $351,494 – District 11 (Lost general 45% – 55%)
  • E.C. Sykes – $211,032 – District 18 (Lost general 46% – 51%)
  • Frank McNeill – $187,847 – District 21 (Lost general 45% – 55%)
  • Milton F. Fitch Jr. – $91,152 – District 4 (Lost general 43% – 57%)

State Senate candidates who raised the most money and lost their general election last cycle

This information comes from candidate reports to the North Carolina State Board of Elections (NCSBE) covering the period of Jan. 1, 2019, through Dec. 31, 2020.

The candidates who raised the most money and lost their election were:

  • Tess Judge – $2,939,372 – District 1 (Lost general 45% – 55%)
  • Terri LeGrand – $2,718,801 – District 31 (Lost general 47% – 53%)
  • J.D. Wooten – $2,285,398 – District 24 (Lost general 48% – 52%)
  • Donna Lake – $2,028,833 – District 7 (Lost general 45% – 55%)
  • Harper Peterson – $1,569,335 – District 9 (Lost general 49% – 51%)

The data above are based on campaign finance reports that active North Carolina PACs submitted to the North Carolina State Board of Elections (NCSBE). Political expenditures that are not controlled by candidates or their campaigns, known as satellite spending, are not included in candidate totals. Federal PACs are not required to report to state agencies. Transparency USA publishes campaign finance data following major reporting deadlines.

This article is a joint publication from Ballotpedia and Transparency USA, who are working together to provide campaign finance information for state-level elections. Learn more about our work here.