Cash from outside groups is rivaling - and in some cases exceeding - what candidates for statewide office are spending on their own election campaigns.

The winner of Arizona’s Democratic gubernatorial primary — whoever it is — will likely be strapped for cash upon entering the general election.

As early ballots went out, the extremely lopsided outside spending in the governor’s race strongly favored Republican nominee Doug Ducey. In the meantime, independent expenditure spending for Democratic nominee Fred DuVal is picking up, but not by much.

The Republican Governors Association launched what is likely the largest single-week advertising blitz of the election cycle in Arizona, attacking Democratic gubernatorial nominee Fred DuVal as a “slick lobbyist” with a liberal record.

Clear path to general election provides a boost to DuVal, but …

After five Republican gubernatorial hopefuls held their first candidate forum, some observers said the big winner was a candidate who wasn’t in the room — Democratic nominee-in-waiting Fred DuVal.

The Republican Governors Association appears to be paying a lot more attention to Arizona than its Democratic counterpart. The RGA has about $1.2 million in its Arizona political action committee, compared to just $4,500 in the Democratic Governors Association Arizona PAC.