Benyak outspends Cook 11:1
The Democratic candidate for the open seat in the 49th Legislative District has spent more than 11 times what his Republican opponent has spent, according to the most recent campaign finance reports.
Democrat Alan Benyak has spent $42,557 and has received in-kind contributions of $73,548, for a total of $116,105, according to the latest report. Republican Donald Bud Cook has spent $5,062, with in-kind contributions of $5,232, for a total of $10,294.
The two are seeking the seat that has been held for the past three decades by Democrat Peter J. Daley, who announced at the beginning of the year that he would not be seeking re-election.
Benyak was the top spender in a six-way race for the party nomination in the spring, using nearly $66,000 in cash and in-kind contributions. Cook spent just $8,532 in the primary to win the Republican nomination in a two-way race. His spring opponent, Melanie Patterson, outspent Cook 5-1 in that race.
Benyak’s largest single cash contributor was the Steamfitters Local 449 Political Action Committee, which gave a total of $15,000 in two separate donations.
Benyak’s largest in-kind donor was the Pennsylvania Democratic Party, which provided services and materials valued at $45,999. The House Democratic Campaign Committee contributed an additional $24,600 of in-kind services to Benyak’s campaign.
The House Republican Campaign Committee provided all of Cook’s in-kind contributions. Cook’s largest individual contribution came from Mike and Lynn Harsh of Wisconsin, who gave $2,000 toward the campaign. Dolores Cook of Coal Center and Thom and Dana Baer of Bethel Park each contributed $1,000 and Cook himself tossed in $814. Cook received five other donations of less than $220 each to make up the remainder of his campaign war chest.
The majority of Cook’s expenses were for campaign signs, for which he spent $4,418.
Benyak’s spending included more than $21,000 with West Media Group, an advertising agency, and $16,000 to the House Democratic Campaign Committee. Another $1,127 went to reimburse the candidate for expenses including Facebook advertising, postage and travel.
Benyak’s remaining expenses went to various causes, including $500 to the Fayette County Democratic Committee toward the county fair and a picnic, and postage.
The district includes portions of Washington and Fayette counties from the Mon Valley to Marianna.