Newhouse, Cicotte lead in campaign fundraising

MOSES LAKE - With about two weeks until the primary election, Republican Dan Newhouse continues to outpace his opponents in fundraising in the Fourth District Congressional race.

Newhouse, the former director of the state Department of Agriculture, had raised $358,014 through June 30, according to reports filed with the Federal Elections Commission. The next highest fundraiser is Republican George Cicotte, a Kennewick attorney who's raised $220,605, which does include $125,000 in loans he made to the campaign.

Eltopia farmer and former NFL tight end Clint Didier has raised $219,174 through the second quarter, which includes a $30,000 loan he previously contributed. Current state Sen. Janèa Holmquist, R-Moses Lake, has raised $171,536 and Ephrata portraitist Gavin Seim reported raising $13,357 through June, although reports show he had just $622 cash on hand.

Estakio Beltran, one of just two Democrats in the race, reported $62,555. Financial figures were not yet available for Yakima Democrat Tony Sandoval.

Second-quarter campaign contribution totals were not yet available for independent candidates Josh Ramirez, a Hanford project controls analyst from Pasco, Richard Wright, a retired physical therapist from Kennewick; Glen Stockwell of Ritzville, Ellensburg's Gordon Pross and Kevin Midbust of Richland.

The top-two vote getters among the dozen candidates in the Aug. 5 primary election will move on to November's general election. Primary election ballots were mailed to voters last week in Grant County.