Show Us the Money

Ashley-Nicole Russell, a Republican challenger running for North Carolina's 1st U.S. House District, raised $216,686 through March 31, 2026. The bulk of that money came from loans she made to her own campaign ($152,400 in candidate loans), leaving just $64,186 in individual contributions from donors. She received no money from political action committees or party committees. Her campaign spent nearly everything it took in, ending the period with just $1,084 in cash on hand. The campaign also carries $152,400 in debt, equal to the full amount of those loans.

Candidate Rankings

Among all candidates running for federal office in North Carolina in the 2026 cycle, Russell's $216,686 in total receipts place her well outside the top tier. North Carolina's federal candidates combined have raised more than $421 million this cycle. Her share of total state fundraising amounts to less than one-tenth of 1%. The top three fundraisers in the state are Roy Cooper with $26,822,372.69, Michael Whatley with $8,410,251.85, and Thom R. Tillis with $4,707,959.82 in total receipts as of the same date. Russell's cash on hand represents a significant disadvantage heading into the general election season.

Incumbents vs. Challengers

Incumbents running in North Carolina are generally far outpacing challengers and open-seat candidates in fundraising in the 2026 cycle. Russell, listed as a challenger with no incumbent status, reflects a common pattern: non-incumbents tend to start with smaller donor networks and fewer organizational dollars. The fundraising gap between incumbents and challengers in the state remains substantial this cycle.

Contributors

Russell's campaign received no contributions from other political committees or parties as of March 31, 2026. She reported zero contributions from political action committees and zero party contributions. No transfers came in from affiliated committees, and no organizational money appeared in her FEC campaign finance disclosures. However, outside spending in support of the candidate in the 2026 cycle totaled $17,338. The North Carolina Conservative Fund spent $17,338 on outside spending for this candidate in the 2026 cycle.

***

Source: Federal Election Commission (FEC), data current as of March 31, 2026.

---

Spot something wrong? Report an issue with this article