Young’s cash dominates field early in Senate race

WASHINGTON – Rep. Todd Young has a substantial early cash advantage in the race to succeed GOP Sen. Dan Coats.

Young reported having more than twice as much in the bank at the end of June as any of his competitors.

Young, R-Bloomington, had $2 million, compared with the $848,543 reported by Rep. Marlin Stutzman, R-Howe.

Former state GOP Chairman Eric Holcomb had $276,766, according to disclosure reports that had to be submitted to the Federal Election Commission by Wednesday.

Former Rep. Baron Hill, the sole Democrat in the race, reported $143,139 in the bank.

Young and Stutzman benefited from the fact they had funds left over from their last House races. They also were able to raise money as incumbents expected to seek re-election — an easier perch from which to collect funds — before announcing they would give up their House seats for a shot at the Senate.

Young announced his Senate candidacy Sunday.

Holcomb, who worked for Coats, started raising money in March, right after Coats announced he would not seek re-election.

Hill launched his campaign last month.

Hill’s backers include musician John Mellencamp, who went to high school with Hill and gave $2,700.

Hill also got $5,400 from Indiana Pacers owner Herb Simon and his wife; $1,000 from Emmis CEO Jeff Smulyan; and $5,400 from Jim Schellinger and his wife. Schellinger is the Indianapolis architect who sought the Democratic nomination for governor in 2008.

Young’s notable backers include former state GOP Chairman Al Hubbard and his wife, and Eli Lilly and Co. CEO John Lechleiter and his wife. Both couples gave Young $5,400. The Indiana companies contributing to Young through political action committees include Anthem Inc., Cummins Inc., Lincoln National Corp., Rolls-Royce North America Holdings Inc. and Zimmer Inc.

Holcomb’s contributors include many who worked, as Holcomb did, for then-Gov. Mitch Daniels. They include Daniels’ former chief of staff, deputy chief of staff, spokeswoman, campaign chairman and finance director. Holcomb also got $250 from Kevin Brinegar, head of the Indiana Chamber of Commerce.

Contributors to Stutzman’s campaign could not be identified because he released only part of his disclosure report. Because Senate candidates, unlike House candidates, are not required to file their reports electronically, they can take more than a week to become publicly available after they’re submitted to the Senate.

Stutzman has been endorsed by the Senate Conservatives Fund, an independent group that spent more than $100,000 in an unsuccessful effort to help Stutzman win the 2010 GOP nomination over Coats. The group says Stutzman is the only “proven conservative” in the 2016 race.

Email Maureen Groppe atmgroppe@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter: @mgroppe.

U.S. Senate race fundraising

Rep. Todd Young, R-Bloomington

Total receipts, post 2014 election through June 30: $1,441,788 (74 percent from individuals).

Total disbursements, post 2014 election through June 30: $267,196.

Cash on hand June 30: $2,014,301.

Rep. Marlin Stutzman, R-Howe

Total receipts, post 2014 election through June 30: $750,968 (63 percent from individuals).

Total disbursements, post 2014 election through June 30: $423,323.

Cash on hand June 30: $848,543.

Republican Eric Holcomb

Total receipts, March 26 through June 30: $332,479 (98 percent from individuals).

Total disbursements, March 26 through June 30: $55,713.

Cash on hand June 30: $276,766.

Democrat Baron Hill

Total receipts, June 3 through June 30: $150,866 (86 percent from individuals).

Total disbursements, June 3 through June 30: $7,727.

Cash on hand June 30: $143,139.

Source: Reports to the FEC