Incumbents raise significantly more cash in CD-2, 4, 6, 7

The old axiom that it pays to be the incumbent holds true in Arizona’s 2nd, 4th, 6th and 7th Congressional Districts, where the office holders have considerably out raised and out spent their challengers, according to Federal Election Commission campaign finance records.

The records cover the period from April 1 to June 30 and show U.S. Rep. Ed Pastor, the Phoenix Democrat who represents CD4, has $1.5 million in cash remaining after spending about $81,000. Pastor, who has no challenger in the primary, raised $99,000 in the quarter.

Republican Janet L. Contreras had only $76.50 left at the end of the reporting period. She has raised $35,018 from the beginning of her campaign, but $25,120 was money she lent to the campaign in January. CD4 covers an area from Ahwatukee Foothills to Northern Avenue and 48th Street to 83rd Avenue.

In CD6, which covers the East Valley, U.S. Rep. Jeff Flake’s quarterly report wasn’t available on the Federal Election Commission’s website as of late Friday. Records show that in the 2009-10 election cycle $407,565 of his $420,946 in contributions came from individuals. He reported $926,140 in cash on hand as of March 31.

Flake’s primary opponent, Jeffrey Smith of Gilbert, reported raising $8,009 this quarter while spending $7,069.

U.S. Rep. Raul Grijalva, the four-term Congressman from Tucson, doesn’t have a primary challenge in CD7, which covers a swath of the state from Parker in the west and Nogales in the south, but he still raised $171,920 and spent $125,639. He has $135,341 in cash on hand.

Republican Ruth McClung had $22,053 in cash. She raised $35,479 and spent $23,825 during the quarter.

U.S. Rep. Trent Franks, a Glendale Republican, raised $126,021 during the quarter and spent $122,051 in his effort to keep his seat in CD2, which covers the far reaches of west Phoenix to Lake Havasu City and up to the northern border. He finished with $76,018 in cash on hand.

His primary challenger, Charles Black, of Kingman, has only $152 in his coffers. He spent $1,774 and raised $1,680 in the quarter.

The lone Democrat, John Thrasher, of Glendale, began the quarter with no money. He raised $7,942 and spent $3,684. He has $4,257 on hand.