From left: Robert Ruiz and Blair Schaffer/Photos by Campaigns

According to campaign finance reports filed with Potter County today, Blair Schaffer, the Republican candidate for Potter County Commission Place 2, has pulled ahead of incumbent Democratic candidate Robert Ruiz.

According to the finance reports, Robert Ruiz has not raised any new funds since his previous finance report, when he had outraised Blair Schaffer with $4,500 to Schaffer’s $4,170.67. While Ruiz has not raised any more money, Schaffer has raised $1916.49, making his total contributions across the two reports available on the Potter County website $6,087.16, making up the deficit he had in fundraising.

Schaffer’s largest donor in this reporting period was the Republican Party of Texas, which contributed $742.50.

Schaffer also outspent Ruiz during the latest reporting period, spending $1,248.42 to Ruiz’s $1,073.86. Schaffer’s largest spending item was $272.19 to UZ Marketing for yard signs. Ruiz’s largest expense during the reporting period was $350 to the Burrito Shop for catering for an event. Ruiz also nearly matched Schaffer’s spending on yard signs, spending $271.88 with Signs on the Cheap.

One metric where Ruiz is still ahead is cash on hand, with Ruiz still holding onto $3,627.48 to Schaffer’s $681.19.

Schaffer still has an outstanding loan of $800 on his finance report, which was also reported on his previous filing. When adding spending across both campaign reports, Ruiz is also ahead with $8,163.87 to Schaffer’s $6,556.41.

Early voting is currently ongoing and ends on Friday, November 4th. Election Day is November 8th. According to our analysis, the balance between turnout of Republican and Democratic primary voters through Saturday has been much closer in Precinct 2 compared to Potter County as a whole, with a majority of voters having voted in neither party’s primary or runoff.