State Rep. Will Ainsworth of Guntersville, a candidate for lieutenant governor, raised far more money than his two Republican primary opponents and more than all the candidates for governor during the first month of campaign fundraising.
Ainsworth reported receiving $405,110 from 146 individual donors on the report for the month of June that was filed Thursday with the secretary of state's office.
"We're excited and we're humbled," Ainsworth said. "I think people are tired of corruption in government and we've taken a stand against corruption. I think people are ready for vision and leadership."
Asked how he has taken a stand against corruption, Ainsworth noted he was one of the 23 representatives who signed impeachment articles against Gov. Robert Bentley last year.
"I've never let a lobbyist spend a dime on me, never even bought a meal for me since I've been in Montgomery," Ainsworth said. "And we go above and beyond to make sure that we're honest and ethical and make sure that we represent the people."
Ainsworth's largest contributions included $30,000 from Burkes Mechanical Inc., of Brent, and $20,000 from Gregory Rader of Columbus, Miss. Ainsworth and his wife also pitched in a total of $33,000.
Candidates could begin raising money on June 5, one year before the 2018 primary.
[Related: Who is raising the most money to become Alabama's next governor?]
Two other Republican candidates for lieutenant governor also filed their June reports this week.
State Board of Education member Mary Scott Hunter reported raising $56,720, with most of that coming from a single donation, $50,000 from Harold Brewer of Huntsville. Twenty-one other individual donors provided the rest.
"I am just excited about where we are," Hunter said. "We've had a great fundraising month. We have a great plan to continue to raise money and run a great grassroots operation and reach people and get around the state and do what we need to do to win."
State Sen. Rusty Glover of Semmes reported raising $13,801 in June. Glover also moved over $60,354 that was left over from his Senate campaign.
"We haven't really started fundraising," Glover said. "We're going to raise some money in July and most of our fundraisers are going to be in the fall after the Senate race because so much of the attention is right now going to the Senate race as far as fundraising. But we feel like we're going to be very competitive and have enough to get our message out, which is what we need.