WASHINGTON — Markwayne Mullin spent nearly $1.6 million to win the eastern Oklahoma congressional seat and wound up with more than $327,000 of debt, according to a new campaign finance report that shows about $99,000 owed to political consultants.
The Adair County Republican, who won all 26 counties in the 2nd congressional district last month in defeating Democrat Rob Wallace and Independent Michael Fulks, will replace retiring Rep. Dan Boren, D-Muskogee, in January.
Loans are legal
Mullin, the owner of a plumbing company, loaned his campaign $255,750, and he paid himself back $22,000 from campaign funds on Nov. 24, less than three weeks after the election.
It is legal — and not unusual — for candidates to repay personal campaign loans with money raised from donors. Mullin had made an earlier payment of $5,750 toward the personal loans.
In addition to the personal loans, Mullin's campaign accrued $99,237 in debt from Oct. 18 to Nov. 26, with most of that owed to Oklahoma-based consultants.
Mullin's campaign had $33,509 in the bank on Nov. 26, according to a report filed Thursday with the Federal Election Commission.
Tim Ross, Mullin's campaign manager, said Friday, “Our fundraising efforts are ongoing, and we continue to reach out to donors as we close down the 2012 campaign.”
Other candidates
Wallace, of Fort Gibson, spent nearly $1.2 million on his race and ended with less than $7,000 in the bank. He reported no debts.
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