Mississippi Today’s analysis of the campaign finance reports for the race reveals that the fact is well known by big donors across the country. A minimum of $3 million has been already spent by out-of-state donors on the special election to determine the permanent replacement for retired U.S. Senator Thad Cochran. Over half of the 1,800 contributions made to candidate’s committees between April 1 & June 30 were from outside of the state. U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde Smith, the Republican incumbent, raised $650,000. This was from outside-of-state political actions committees. This figure does not include contributions made by individuals living outside Mississippi. Hyde’s total does not include the more than $750,000 that Hyde’s U.S. Chamber of Commerce spent on Hyde-Smith advertisements and the $250,000 donation that Sean Parker, a billionaire from New York, gave to a pro Hyde-Smith super-PAC in April. Hyde-Smith raised $1.5million through June. This beat both Democratic challenger Mike Espy as well as conservative Republican challenger Chris McDaniel. Espy received $308,000 in June. 64 percent of all contributions came from outside Mississippi. Through the second quarter, Espy reported that he had $281 476 cash in his bank account. The Espy disbursements include payments to Joe Trippi, a Washington, D.C.-based political consultant. Trippi served as a consultant to Sen. Doug Jones in 2017, an Alabama Democrat who defeated the controversial Republican candidate Roy Moore. Trippi was also an advisor to Howard Sherman, a Californian businessman who ran for the Democratic U.S. Senate seat currently held by U.S. Senator Roger Wicker. In a June runoff, Sherman was defeated by David Baria, a Gulf Coast state representative. McDaniel also raised $272,263 during the same period. 62 percent of all contributions came from outside Mississippi. Through the second quarter, he reported that he had $156,054 in cash. McDaniel received donations from several members the Mercer family including Robert Mercer, a billionaire in New York. Mercer had donated $500,000 previously to a pro McDaniel super PAC. This was in addition to Dick Uihlein’s donation of $500,000 to the same committee. Hyde-Smith, who was elected in April to succeed retiring Senator Thad Cochran in November’s special election, will face Espy or McDaniel. The Federal Election Commission website did not publish the finance reports of the fourth candidate, Democrat Tobey Barrtee, of Gautier on Saturday afternoon. The special election’s large sums of money contrast with the relatively quiet campaign season in Mississippi. McDaniel and Hyde-Smith have been arguing about who represents conservative ideas best. McDaniel has been relentless in his attacks on Hyde Smith: She was a Democrat up until 2010, but she isn’t conservative enough. He claims that she was hand-picked to represent conservative ideas by the GOP establishment. Hyde-Smith countered by partnering herself with Donald Trump and championing GOP legislative priorities while on the campaign trail. Espy on the other side, however, has been out of the public eye for the past few weeks. At a Jackson campaign event on Friday, U.S. Senator Cory Booker, a New Jersey Democrat, endorsed Espy. Hyde-Smith and McDaniel have not been able to stop Espy’s message that Espy can reach across the aisle and transcend party lines. Breakdown of candidate committee fundraising through June 30: Mike Espy. Raised $308,236 (plus $100,000 personal loan). Spent $126,760 Cash: $281,476 Cindy Hyde Smith: Raised $1,569.048. Spent $264,232 Cash: $1,389 7,799 Chris McDaniel. Spent $171,208 Cash: $156,054 Tobey Barrtee: There is no finance report.