He as yet faces no primary opponent and only one Republican so far seeks to oust him. But Hawaii’s senior U.S. senator has a mound of cash in his campaign coffers.

Sen. Brian Schatz, a Democrat, raised $1.3 million in the fourth quarter of 2021, increasing the amount of money he has in cash on hand to $3.9 million for his 2022 reelection bid.

Schatz, who was appointed to his seat in December 2012 and has since twice won reelection, received about two-thirds of his contributions from individuals and about one-third from political action committees.

Major recent contributors include Cox Enterprises PAC ($4,000), NCTA – Internet and Television Association Political Action Committee ($5,000), and Comcast Corp. and NBC Universal Political Action Committee ($2,500). Schatz sits on the Senate Committee on Appropriations and the Senate Subcommittee on Communications, Media and Broadband.

The incumbent spent almost $453,000 in the fourth quarter, which covers October through December. Significant recipients of Schatz’s largesse include the Democratic Party of Hawaii ($8,000) and Lori LaFave, a Washington, D.C.-based fundraising consultant ($10,000).

As of Tuesday no primary challenger to Schatz had emerged, but the filing deadline for the 2022 election is not until June 7.

Bob McDermott, a GOP representative in the state House, joined the Senate race against Schatz last month and has not yet filed a campaign finance disclosure with the Federal Election Commission. But he said in an interview that he has raised $1,500 so far.

Hawaii’s other U.S. senator, Democrat Mazie Hirono, is not on the ballot until 2024. But she reported about $860,000 in cash on hand and has raised a total of $1.3 million.

Recent contributors of note include Pfizer Inc. PAC ($2,500), Honolulu attorney Paul Alston ($2,000), and insurance executive Timothy Johns ($1,000). Hirono also paid $4,000 to the D.C.-based fundraising consultant The Kauffman Group.

Hirono was first elected to the Senate in 2012, having previously served in the House.

U.S. House Races

Kai Kahele, the first-term congressman said to be considering a run for Hawaii governor this year, raised $448,800 for his reelection, should he seek a second term.

Major contributors include the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association PAC ($5,000), the American Federation of Government Employees PAC ($2,500), and the International Unions of Painters and Allied Trades Political Action Together PAC ($5,000).

Kahele’s major recent campaign expenses include $3,000 to Lori LaFave. He has $482,000 in cash on hand, and no one has formally declared their candidacy to oppose him in the primary.

Kahele’s Democratic Party colleague, U.S. Rep. Ed Case, raised a total of $612,900 for his reelection and had $643,000 in cash on hand at the end of December.

Notable fourth quarter contributions include the Across The Aisle PAC ($3,000), the American Retirement Association PAC ($2,500), the Blue Dog Political Action Committee ($2,000), Morgan Stanley PAC ($2,000), Raytheon Company Political Action Committee ($4,500), Home Depot Inc. PAC ($5,000) and UnitedHealth Group PAC ($5,000).

Individual contributors to Case include Llayron L. Clarkson, Jr., president of Houston-based Clarkson Aerospace Corp ($5,000) and Nadeem Meghji, a partner with New York-based Blackstone ($2,900). Case sits on the House Appropriations Committee and one of its subcommittees, Military Construction, Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies.

Case’s largest expenses in the fourth quarter (more than $14,000) were to Eckert & Associates, a D.C.-based fundraising consultant.

Case was elected to the 1st Congressional District seat in 2019. He represented the 2nd District from 2002 to 2007.

Sergio Alcubilla, a first-time candidate who is running against Case in the Aug. 13 primary, raised $50,000 and spent $32,700.

Alcubilla, who does not accept corporate PAC or corporate donations, said in an interview that 70% of his contributors were from Hawaii and that about half of those contributed $27 each or less.