Sen. Bill Hagerty (R-TN) has raised a reported $17 million for his reelection campaign, compared with $26,000 for independent challenger David Sutman Jr.. That gives Hagerty a roughly 650-to-1 fundraising advantage over Sutman in a race rated Solid Republican. Hagerty's fundraising figures run through Sept. 30, while Sutman's extend through Oct. 14.
The cash gap is even wider. As of Sept. 30, Hagerty reported $5.3 million in cash on hand and no debt, while Sutman reported $500 in cash and no debt. Hagerty ran unopposed in the Aug. 6 Republican primary. Marquita Bradshaw defeated Maria Brewer in the Democratic primary and is also running in the general election.
Hagerty's reported donor profile includes substantial contributions from business executives and legal professionals. Homemakers contributed $312,000, followed by CEOs ($267,000), lawyers ($173,000), and company presidents ($172,000).
Donors identified as not employed or retired reportedly accounted for 35% of Hagerty's itemized individual contributions, totaling approximately $2 million. Other committees reportedly accounted for 19% of Hagerty's receipts, compared with none of Sutman's.
Outside groups have reportedly spent $800,000 in Tennessee's Senate race, with most of that spending supporting Hagerty. Those expenditures are separate from candidate fundraising totals. Although fundraising alone does not determine election outcomes, Sutman reported less than 1% of Hagerty's available campaign cash, leaving him at a substantial financial disadvantage.
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