By Terri Jo Neff |

Last week’s announcement that Arizona Corporation Commissioner Justin Olson is joining the already crowded list of Republicans seeking the party’s nomination to take on U.S. Senator Mark Kelly in November 2022 is drawing attention to the basic economic reality of supply and demand.

Olson’s jump into the race occurred as several of his opponents filed their Third Quarter 2021 campaign committee report of receipts and expenditures.

One of those is Jim Lamon, a utility company executive and political newcomer who reported nearly $133,000 in contributions in Q3. That brought his total campaign receipts to $356,363 as of Sept. 30, nearly 90 percent of Lamon’s contributions have come from WinRed, a Virginia-based political action committee which distributes earmarked contributions to candidates and committees.

His Q3 report also lists $5 million in loans to the campaign which Lamon has guaranteed.  As of Sept. 30, the campaign has spent more than $1.7 million. The ability to self-finance his campaign means Lamon, has more time to spent at in-person events in an effort increase his name recognition.

Mick McGuire, Arizona’s recently retired Arizona National Guard adjutant general, submitted his Q3 report showing $200,404 in new contributions, for a campaign total of about $427,000.  Of that, more than $155,000 came from WinRed.

McGuire has also made or guaranteed almost $2.5 million in loans to his campaign since it started, of which $49,500 was dated in Q3. The campaign spent about $335,000 during Q3, nearly 93 percent of all disbursements to date.

Another candidate, Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich, listed just under $559,000 in new contributions in his Q3 report, upping his campaign total to almost $1 million as of Sept. 30. Of that, more than $620,000 has come from WinRed. Brnovich also reported disbursements through Sept. 30 of $486,760.

Another 13 Republicans have announced plans to vie for the nomination to challenge Kelly but none are seen as viable candidates.  Although there have been few public endorsements yet for the Republican candidates for U.S. Senate, the Q3 reports offered a few clues as to current support.

According to Brnovich’s Q3 filing, he has received contributions from Mike Bailey, the former U.S. Attorney for the District of Arizona, as well as the Otoe Missoura Tribe of Oklahoma, while Lamon reported contributions from Senate Audit Liaison Ken Bennett and Look Ahead America’s Executive Director Matt Braynard.

McGuire’s report shows financial support from Kathleen Winn of the Maricopa County Community College District and venture capitalist Todd Belfer. However, Masters has the most impressive supporter thanks to his boss, billionaire and PayPayl founder Peter Thiel.

It is Thiel who contributed $10 million to a political action committee called Saving Arizona to support candidates like Masters.