Johnson’s bid for SC gov has its best fundraising quarter. How much did he raise

State Rep. Jermaine Johnson’s campaign said it has raised $700,000 between July and September of this year marking his best fundraising quarter since jumping into the race for governor.

Read more Johnson’s bid for SC gov has its best fundraising quarter. How much did he raise

The Democratic nominee for governor used the cash to go up first on television screens with a campaign ad in the general election season out of those seeking the governor’s mansion. Johnson’s ad campaign is airing on streaming services and not on traditional broadcast television.

Johnson’s fundraising numbers were first shared with The State newspaper, but his campaign has yet to file with the State Ethics Commission.

Johnson struggled to raise large sums of cash during the primary campaign against Charleston attorney Mullins McLeod and Greenville businessman Billy Webster who both were able to pour personal resources into their bids. Webster also had support from more donors with deeper pockets.

Still with the least amount of money in that contest, Johnson won the Democratic nomination without needing a runoff.

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He has relied on small dollar donations during his bid. Johnson’s campaign has the most individual donors of any individual Democratic campaign for governor in state history, his campaign said.

“When I decided to run for governor, I did it because I kept hearing the same thing from folks all across South Carolina. At kitchen tables, in church fellowship halls, and on front porches, they needed someone who would carry their voice to Columbia and that they were ready for change,” Johnson said in a statement.

Attorney General Alan Wilson, the Republican nominee for governor, has yet to release fundraising figures for the third quarter. He has raised more than $1 million during a filing period several times during the cycle, according to state Ethics Commission records.

Wilson’s campaign said it plans to go on television during the only scheduled televised debate between him and Johnson, which takes place Tuesday on Gray Media stations.

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