Iowa Democratic candidates for state office have raised and spent more money than Republican candidates since January 2017.

Bret Nilles, the Democraticchair of Linn County Democrats, said he thought the outpouring of Democratic dollars reflects the candidates trying to gain name recognition through advertisements in order to unseat incumbents.

“In order to be competitive, you have to raise your name a little,” Nilles said.

He wishes candidates would spend more time debating, he said, and he believes it’s unfortunate so much money needs to be spent on campaigns.

Of note in the latest campaign finance reports:

Gubernatorial race:

Republican incumbent Kim Reynolds raised more money than Democratic candidate Fred Hubbell from Oct. 15 to Oct. 29, taking in $3.6 million. In the two-week span, Hubbell raised $2.4 million.

Reynolds also spent slightly more than Hubbell since Oct. 15, with an expenditure total of $3.8 million; Hubbell spent $3.3 million.

In the past, Hubbell has raised and spent more than Reynolds. The race has been one of the most expensive gubernatorial competitions in Iowa’s history.

Reynolds’ top three donations this funding period were from the Republican Governor’s Association Right Direction PAC, a political-action committee that works to elect Republican governors. The group donated $2.93 million in the two-week period, making up more than two-thirds of her contributions in that time.

Hubbell was the biggest contributor to his campaign, contributing $500,000 in the two-week period. The Democratic Governor’s Association Victory Fund also contributed $500,000 in two donations to his campaign.

Reynolds still has about $1.1 million in cash on hand left after the two-week period, and Hubbell, in comparison, has emptied his accounts, leaving about $170,000 on hand after the two-week period.

Auditor race heating up:

In the non-governor statewide races, Rob Sand, the Democratic candidate for state auditor, topped Mary Mosiman in fundraising with $1.7 million. Sand also spent the most money throughout his campaign, equaling around the amount he raised. Des Moines businessman Nixon Lauridsen chipped in about $725,000, making Lauridsen Sand’s top contributor.

RELATED: Two contenders race for control of the state auditor’s office

Sand’s opponent, Republican incumbent Mosiman, in comparison raised $192,000 and spent $206,000 total. The Republican Party of Iowa funded approximately $50,000  of that.

Linda Greenlee, the Scott County Republican county chair, said she’s concerned about the possible outcome of the auditor’s race.

“A lot of money [is] being brought in against Mary Mosiman. My big issue with that is she’s a CPA [certified public accountant], and her opponent is not,” Greenlee said.

Sand, who has worked in the state Attorney General’s Office investigating fraud, has contended that the Auditor’s Office needs more legal expertise.

Secretary of state race:

Democratic secretary of state candidate Deidre DeJear raised $732,639.98, approximately $600,000 more than Republican incumbent Paul Pate.

DeJear spent $569,647.25, and Pate spent $296,888.39.

Here’s a breakdown:

Kim Reynolds (R)

• Jan. 1 – May 14
  • Raised: $1,259,686.80
  • Spent: $1,157,251.40
• May 15 – July 14
  • Raised: $1,173,647.31
  • Spent:$1,551,669.81
• July 15 – Oct. 14
  • Raised: $4,501,206.95
  • Spent: $6,861,590.31
• Oct. 15 – Oct. 30
  • Raised: $3,675,184.00
  • Spent: $3,817,691.56
• January 2017 – January 2018
  • Raised: $3,744,046.95
  • Spent: $688,845.45
• Total Raised: $14,353,772.01
• Total Spent:$14,077,048.53

Fred Hubbell (D)

• Jan. 1 – May 14
  • Contributions: $$3,014,870.76
  • Spent: $3,998,178.94
• May 15 – July 14
  • Contributions: $2,601,424.47
  • Spent: $763,692.62
• July 15 – Oct. 14
  • Contributions: $8,357,927.45
  • Spent: $9,224,037.24
• Oct. 15 – Oct. 30
  • Contributions: $2,477,731.67
  • Spent: $3,394,056.45
• January 2017 – January 2018
  • Contributions: $3,053,257.53
  • Spent: $1,821,899.32
• Total raised: $19,505,211.88
• Total spent: $19,201,864.57

Deidre DeJear (D):

• January 2017 – January 2018
  • Contributions: $49,032.02 
  • Spent: $13,668.62 
• Jan. 1 – May 14
  • Contributions: $89702.40
  • Spent: $82,656.09
• May 15 – July 14
  • Contributions: $70,923.17
  • Spent: $26,063.29 
• July 15 – Oct. 14
  • Contributions: $365,192.54 
  • Spent: $97,531.51 
• Oct. 15 – Oct. 30
  • Contributions: $173,569.08 
  • Spent: $406,320.54 
• Total raised: $748,419.21
• Total spent: $626,240.05

Paul Pate (R):

• January 2017 – January 2018
  • Contributions: $25,815
  • Spent: $11,413.39 
  • Took out $200,000 in loans
• Jan. 1 – May 14
  • Contributions: $19,024.00 
  • Spent: $17,770.78 
• May 15 – July 14
  • Contributions: $8,340.00 
  • Spent: $14,201.37 
• July 15 – Oct. 14
  • Contributions: $59,203.95
  • Spent: $180,310.67
• Oct. 15 – Oct. 30
  • Contributions: $21,290.00 
  • Spent: $73,192.18 
• Total contributions: $133,672.95  (not including loan)
• Total spent: $296,888.39 

Rob Sand (D):

• January 2017 – January 2018
  • Contributions: $200,854.50 
  • Spent: $34,706.02 
• Jan. 1 – May 14
  • Contributions: $178,167.80 
  • Spent: $68,179.93
• May 15 – July 14
  • Contributions: $100,261.00
  • Spent: $66,665.52 spent
• July 15 – Oct. 14
  • Contributions: $846,866.49 
  • Spent: $910,490.07 
• Oct. 15 – Oct. 30
  • Contributions: $402,070.90 
  • Spent: $626,676.18 
• Total raised: $1,728,220.69
• Total spent: $1,706,717.72

Mary Mosiman (R):

• January 2017 – January 2018
  • Contributions: $28,392.00 
  • Spent: $7,554.44 
• Jan. 1 – May 14
  • Contributions: $60,991.00 
  • Spent: $12,217.17 
• May 15 – July 14
  • Contributions: $17,309.00 
  • Spent: $6,414.14 
• July 15 – Oct. 14
  • Contributions: $62,780.00 
  • Spent: $113,505.62 
• Oct. 15 – Oct. 30
  • Contributions: $22,800.00 
  • Spent: $67,240.24 
• Total raised: $192,272.00
• Total spent:  $206,931.61

Tim Gannon (D):

• Jan. 1 – May 14
  • Contributions: $44,280.00
  • Spent: $12,063.62 
• May 15 – July 14
  • Contributions: $85,354.99 
  • Spent: $11,366.14 
• July 15 – Oct. 14
  • Contributions: $228,512.70 
  • Spent: $74,144.77
• Oct. 15 – Oct. 30
  • Contributions: $140,080.16 
  • Spent: $290,426.89 
• Total raised: $498,227.85
• Total spent: $388,001.42

Mike Naig (R)

• Jan. 1 – May 14
  • $83,747.00 worth of contributions
  • $18,677.98 spent
• May 15 – July 14
  • $46,100.00 worth of contributions
  • $41,337.27 spent
• July 15 – Oct. 14
  • $231,789.00 worth of contributions
  • $40,580.40 spent
• Oct. 15 – Oct. 30
  • $44,960.00 contributions
  • $232,510.50 spent
• Total raised: $406,596.00
• Total spent:  $333,106.15