More than $250,000 has been spent by candidates trying to sway Chautauqua County voters.

According to the most recent campaign finance filings as of Wednesday, the bulk of the money has been spent on the race to replace the retiring Andy Goodell in the state Assembly. Michael Bobseine has spent $126,639.87 while Andrew Molitor has spent $125,766.34.

Much of that spending is thanks to the first year of the state’s public campaign finance system. Bobseine has received $172,356 in public campaign money thus far while Molitor has received $154,400. Molitor has raised more money on his own than Bobseine, $35,915.18 to $23,801.55.

State Sen. George Borrello, R-Sunset Bay, doesn’t have an opponent this year. That means he isn’t eligible to receive any state money for his re-election campaign. So far Borrello has raised and spent $6,850 during this election cycle.

The race for Chautauqua County Family Court Judge hasn’t generated much spending. Peter Johnson, the Republican candidate, has a balance of $6,395.17 while Sally Jaroszynski, running on the Working Families line, has $1,499.98.

FEDERAL RACES

The race for Congress between Rep. Nick Langworthy and challenger Tom Carle of Fredonia shows the advantages an incumbent can have. Langworthy began the election cycle with $1,184,750 and still has $1,106,345.78 cash on hand. He has raised $51,892.17, including $34,452.59 from individual contributions and $1,000 from PACs while spending $130,296.39. Carle, on the other hand, has no cash on hand. His campaign has raised $31,517.03, including $23,204.86 from individual contributors, $1,850 from party committee contributions, $2,472.46 from other party contributions and $3,942.58 in candidate contributions. He has spent $29,061.45 thus far.

The incumbent advantage applies to the race for the U.S. Senate as well. Incumbent Sen. Kirstin Gillibrand has $1,790,257.57 on hand through Oct. 16. She has raised $15,409,735, of which $7,336,057 came from individual contributions and $845,298.33 came from other committee contributions. Another $5,996,811.46 was received as transfers from other authorized committees. Gillibrand’s campaign has spent $23,934,879.53 while sending $9,601,921 to other authorized committees. She has also refunded $152,080.17 to individuals and issued $20,250 in refunds to other committees.

Michael Sapraicone, her Republican challenger, has $186,003.90 on hand, but his committee also owes $531,709 in loans and debts. Sapraicone has raised $1,115,394.41 this year, with $348,419.69 from individuals, $500 from the Republican Party, $5,000 from other committee contributions and $83,451.34 from the candidate himself. The campaign has spent $929,390.51.

Diane Sare, an independent third party candidate, has raised $471,095.62 while spending $472,490.10.

PRESIDENTIAL RACE

More than a billion dollars has been raised in the race for the presidency during this election cycle.

Vice President Kamala Harris has raised $997,950,787.25, including $504,772,445.59 from individuals while receiving $487,043,104.42 from other authorized committees. Through Oct. 16 Harris has spent $881,058.42 with $118,825,510 in cash on hand.

Former President Donald Trump, meanwhile, has raised $391,949,664.42, including $54,797,028.57 from individuals and $318,612,559.20 from other authorized committees. He has spent $355,734,982.23 and has $36,214,692.19 cash on hand as of Oct. 16.

While he isn’t in the race any longer, President Joe Biden raised more than a billion over the past four years – $1,009,344,093.34, to be exact. That includes $504,772,725.59 in individual contributions and $492,663,484.46 from other authorized committees. He has spent $890,779,058.27, including $7,209,9078.10 in refunds to individuals, leaving $118,825,510.44 cash on hand as of Oct. 16.