W.Va. races featured $6M from candidates' wealth - Beckley, Bluefield & Lewisburg News, Weather, Sports

W.Va. races featured $6M from candidates' wealth

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) -

By LAWRENCE MESSINA
Associated Press

Five West Virginians together plowed more than $6 million from their personal wealth into their election campaigns this year, but with decidedly mixed results.

Republican Bill Maloney led the self-financing, with $1.8 million toward his second failed bid for governor in as many years.

Patrick Morrisey won the attorney general's race after loaning himself $1.4 million. That provided the Republican with 73% of his campaign funds, the largest self-supplied share among all statewide candidates.

Democrat Tish Chafin self-financed almost as large a portion of her unsuccessful Supreme Court bid. Justice Robin Davis was re-elected after loaning her campaign more than $860,000.

Republican John Raese lost his latest U.S. Senate race after $1 million in loans. Raese has devoted at least $7.1 million toward five statewide campaigns, all unsuccessful.

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