— Fort Gibson Democrat Rob Wallace set the pace for second-quarter fundraising in the race toward the 2nd Congressional District post being vacated by U.S. Rep. Dan Boren.

Federal Election Commission reports show Wallace outpaced all four candidates remaining in the running for the Democratic and Republican nominations. Wallace, a former state and federal prosecutor, reported second-quarter contributions totaling $233,165.

Markwayne Mullin, who snagged 42 percent of the votes cast in the June 26 Republican primary, reported second-quarter contributions of $139,396.

Muskogee Republican George Faught, who earned 23 percent of the primary votes, reported contributions of $122,122 for the April 1 to June 30 reporting period. Wallace’s Democratic opponent, agri-businessman Wayne Herriman, trailed the field with second-quarter contributions totaling $21,360.

While contributions continued to flow into all the candidates’ campaign coffers, FEC data show those heading into the Aug. 28 runoff elections are becoming cash poor — some more than others. Mullin, a plumbing services business owner who has loaned his campaign nearly $280,000, had just more than $152,000 of the $870,000 left at the end of the second quarter.

Wallace’s campaign reported $51,035 cash on hand June 30 after spending more than $479,500 of the $530,615 he has raised. Faught, a three-term state representative, reported $30,450 cash on hand. Herriman, who loaned his campaign $220,000, had just more than $8,200 cash on hand at the end of June.

Wallace, the only candidate among the remaining candidates who has not loaned his campaign money, said he is “very humbled” by the level of support he has seen.

“As I have said before, this race isn’t about money or who can write the biggest check, it is about putting together a coalition of people that want to change the attitude in Washington,” Wallace said in a media release. “It is about having a strong voice for working men and women ... talking about the issues, (and) not hiding behind your personal wealth and misleading attack ads.”

Tim Ross, who manages Mullin’s campaign, said contributions indicate the momentum revealed by polling data.

“The momentum of this race is undeniable,” Ross said. “The voters are tired of the negative campaigning and the willingness to say or do anything to be elected. Markwayne is a businessman, not a politician, and that’s what people are responding to.”

Elisha Krauss said while Faught trailed his primary opponent in second-quarter fundraising, contributions he did receive came primarily from voters in the 2nd District. Krauss, who manages Faught’s campaign, also noted the huge debt Mullin’s campaign has racked up.

“We are operating on little to no campaign debt,” Krauss said. “When they (contributors) donate to him (Mullin), they are giving him money to put back into his own pockets.”

Herriman deflected questions about campaign funds  brought in during the second quarter, saying voters “should look closely to where my opponent’s money is coming from.”

“He has received a lot of PAC money and money from special interests — I have none of that,” Herriman said of the $85,000 Wallace’s campaign has received from political action committees. “We intend to finish in good order and prove the right man can win without special interest money.”

The candidates are scheduled to file their next campaign finance reports Aug. 16, 12 days before the runoff election.

Reach D.E. Smoot at (918) 684-2901 or dsmoot@muskogeephoenix.com.