Lunsford begins general election self-financing with $1 million

Senate candidate Bruce Lunsford (D-Louisville): Politicker photo

Businessman Bruce Lunsford (D-Louisville) put $1 million of his own money into his U.S. Senate race the day after the United States Supreme Court overturned the "millionaire's amendment" - a campaign finance law that would allow opponents of self-financing candidates to increase contribution limits for their individual donors.

The million dollar injection is the first personal expenditure Lunsford - whose personal fortune is estimated to be between $33 million and $110 million - has made in the general election campaign, though not the first this year. Engrossed in a seven-candidate Democratic primary, Lunsford spent over $2.1 million of his own funds before the election on May 20.

Lunsford's newest expenditure came on June 27 - one day after the Supreme Court rejected the provisions of the so-called "millionaire's amendment" as unconstitutional. That amendment set thresholds of spending for self-financing candidates. When each threshold was met, a self-financer's opponent could collect increased contributions from individuals.

A million dollar contribution, for example, would boost limits for an opponent from $2,300 to $6,900 per donor, with the amendment in place.

The Supreme Court's rejection of those provisions does not help Lunsford's opponent, incumbent U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell (R-Louisville).

At this point, however, the Supreme Court's decision only applies to U.S. House races - as the case before the court pertained to the campaign of a New York House candidate. The decision would have to be applied to Senate races via a separate legal filing - an avenue the Lunsford campaign has not yet pursued.

The Lunsford campaign is not giving up on seeking individual contributions, despite only collecting $408,000 from donors up to the April 30 pre-primary filing with the Federal Election Commission. Patrick Crowley of the Kentucky Enquirer reported yesterday that top state Democrats including state House Speaker Jody Richards (D-Bowling Green), House floor leader Rocky Adkins (D-Sandy Hook), and Speaker Pro Tem Larry Clark (D-Louisville) will all be in attendance for a $500-minimum fundraiser on July 17 for Lunsford at the home of Campbell County Commissioner Dave Otto in Fort Thomas.

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