Rokita holds commanding fundraising advantage in race for attorney general

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Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita has more than $1.1 million in the bank for his re-election bid, dwarfing the money raised so far by his potential Democratic opponents.

Rokita is the only Republican to file to run for the party’s nomination at its state convention this summer, though one potential challenger has made some noise about jumping into the race.

Financially, Rokita is well-positioned to combat a challenge from Democrats who have about one-tenth or less than Rokita’s campaign cash on hand, according to reports filed Monday with the Indiana Secretary of State.

Rokita started the year with a little over $1 million and ended the first quarter with more than $1.1 million, the reports show.  For the quarter, he raised $174,309.57, including $10,000 from Andy Mohr Automotive Group, $2,5000 from American Senior Communities, and $1,000 from DaVita, Inc.

Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita

With $89,949.83 in expenses, Rokita’s cash on had at the end of the first quarter was $1,165,838.12.

Democratic candidate Destiny Wells ended the first quarter at $106,557.84,  according to her campaign finance report. For the quarter, she rasied $95,907.23 in contributions, including $1,000  from Roy Umbarger & Sons, Inc., $500 from Veterans for Indiana, $250 from Shackleford for House, and $250 from the Committee to Elect Ed DeLaney.

Wells will face Democrat Beth White at the party’s state convention, where delegates will choose the attorney general nominee.

White trails in the fundraising race, reporting $32,672.25 at the end of the first quarter. But she started her campaign about two months after Wells.

Wells and White will square off at the state Democratic convention on July 13.

Rokita currently faces no opponent for the GOP nomination at the party’s convention on June 15.  However, Madison County Prosecutor Rodney Cummings is considering challenging Rokita if the Indiana Supreme Court takes further disciplinary action against Rokita.

The court publicly reprimanded Rokita last year for statements he made on a Fox News program in which he called Dr. Caitlin Bernard an “abortion activist acting as a doctor—with a history of failing to report.”

Rokita’s statement was found to have violated a professional conduct rule because it “had no substantial purpose, in connection with Respondent’s legal representation of the State, other than to embarrass or burden the physician.”

The Democrat and Republican nominees for attorney general will face each other in the November general election.

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