There are two kinds of races going on this political season.
One is for votes.
The other is for money.
Voters’ ballots in the all-mail-ballot election are due in drop-boxes and at courthouses in Clallam and Jefferson counties by 8 p.m. Tuesday, or must be postmarked by that date.
Like the race for votes, the battle for money has been continuous, resulting in endless TV and radio advertisements and a cascade of political fliers flowing into mailboxes from Neah Bay to Quilcene.
No campaign efforts by North Olympic Peninsula candidates hold a candle to the race for state House of Representatives for the 24th Legislative District, a two-year term for a position that represents Clallam and Jefferson counties and parts of Grays Harbor County.
In a contest closely watched by Democrats statewide, contributions to the combatants totaled nearly $400,000 as of Tuesday, the last state Public Disclosure Commission reporting date before the election.
In the fray are six-time incumbent Jim Buck, R-Joyce, and second-time challenger and political neophyte Kevin Van De Wege, D-Sequim, who’s raised the fifth highest contribution total of any House candidate in Washington.
More than a third of that is from state Democratic Party sources.
On the other end of the spectrum, candidates who elect to “mini-report” cannot receive more than $3,500 and cannot accept more than $300 from any single contributor.
They don’t file any public contribution or expenditure public disclosure forms, but their records can be inspected by the public during the last eight days leading up to the election.
Here’s a rundown, available at www.pdc.wa.gov by clicking “search the database” and “view reports,” of who has raised how much in cash and in-kind contributions of $1,000 or more, and what they’ve spent it on, as of Tuesday.
24th District
* Jim Buck: Contributions, $167,245; expenditures, $124,384.
* Kevin Van De Wege: Contributions, $220,489; expenditures, $199,571.