Congressman Mike Ross (D) 4th District
PINE BLUFF, Ark. (AP) - Two Republican candidates to replace U.S. Rep. Mike Ross say they're off to a strong start with fundraising for next year's race.
Tom Cotton and Beth Anne Rankin released their fundraising totals for the third quarter of this year in advance of a federal deadline to report those numbers.
Cotton says he raised more than $343,000 in the third quarter. The Dardanelle management consultant and Army veteran has spent only $12,000 of that total.
Rankin, a former Miss Arkansas from Magnolia who worked for former Gov. Mike Huckabee, says she raised more than $170,000 since entering the race in late August. Her campaign says it hasn't calculated her total cash on hand yet.
The only Democrat who's announced he'll run for U.S. Rep. Mike Ross' House seat says he's raised no money for next year's race.
While two Republicans announced their fundraising totals for the third quarter Thursday, State Sen. Gene Jeffress of Louann tells The Associated Press that he "hasn't raised a penny."
Ross, Arkansas' only Democrat in the U.S. House, has announced he won't seek re-election in 2012.
(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)