Incumbent state Sen. Susan Pha and state Reps. Huldah Momanyi Hiltsley and Samantha Vang have flexed their financial muscle heading into next week’s primary, raising nearly 10 times as much as their main challengers Nehemiah Garley and Wynfred Russell.
Minnesota law requires candidates to file pre-primary campaign finance reports 10 days before the primary election. This year’s filing deadline was Friday, July 31.
Mshale’s review of campaign finance filings shows Pha began the calendar year with just $837.67 in her campaign account but raised $68,113.95 through July 20. After spending $28,327.76, she closed the reporting period with $40,623.86 in cash on hand, giving her a formidable campaign war chest heading into the DFL primary.
Pha’s contributions came from donors representing a wide range of professions, including healthcare, education, transportation, real estate, manufacturing, government service and small business, with entrepreneurs making up a significant share of itemized contributors.
Garley’s campaign told Mshale on Monday afternoon that it expected to file its pre-primary campaign finance report later that day. As of 11 a.m. Tuesday, however, no report had yet been posted on the Minnesota Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board’s website.
On the Republican side, Brad Olson, who is unopposed for his party’s nomination in Senate District 38, reported raising $7,920.84 in cash receipts, plus $100 in in-kind contributions, during the reporting period. After spending $1,060.95, Olson closed the period with $6,859.89 in cash on hand. His campaign was funded primarily through individual contributions, along with a $1,000 contribution from the 3rd Congressional District Republican Party.
The itemized individual donors listed in Olson’s report were retirees, although most of his individual contributions were reported as non-itemized donations.
On the House side for District 38A, Rep. Huldah Momanyi Hiltsley began the year with $6,414.13 in cash on hand and raised another $11,700 through July 20. After spending $9,080.79, she closed the reporting period with $9,033.34 in cash on hand. Her contributions came from healthcare professionals, human services workers, business owners, finance executives, self-employed professionals and political committees. In addition to individual donors, Hiltsley received contributions from lobbyists and political committees, including LeadingAge Minnesota PAC, the Multi Housing Political Action Committee and SEIU Healthcare Minnesota. The report also shows Hiltsley spent $375 on candidate security for caucus events, including threat assessment, security guards and guest screening.
Challenger Wynfred Russell reported no fundraising or campaign expenditures during the reporting period. His report shows he began the year with $1,472.95 in cash on hand and ended July 20 with the same amount after reporting no receipts or disbursements.
Democratic Socialist candidate Richard Klatte, who is also seeking the DFL nomination in House District 38A, had not filed a 2026 campaign finance report with the Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board as of Tuesday morning.
Although she does not face a primary challenger in District 38B, Rep. Samantha Vang also entered the election year in a healthy financial position. Campaign finance reports show she began the year with $13,247.76 in cash on hand, raised another $6,860 during the reporting period and ended July 20 with $12,192.37 cash on hand after spending $7,915.39. In addition to individual contributions, Vang received $1,200 from lobbyists and $1,050 from political committees, including the Minnesota State Patrol Troopers Association and the Saint Paul Teachers Pension PAC.
The report also shows Vang spent $1,025 in noncampaign disbursements for candidate security, including payments for threat assessment, security guards, guest screening and a protective detail.
On the Republican side, Robert Marvin, who will face Vang in the November general election, reported beginning the year with $1,002.40 in his campaign account. He raised $2,475 during the reporting period and reported no campaign expenditures, ending July 20 with $3,477.40 in cash on hand. Because Marvin reported no expenditures, his cash on hand increased by the full amount he raised during the reporting period. His fundraising consisted of individual contributions and a $500 contribution from the Republican Party’s Senate District 38 organization. Unlike the reports filed by Pha, Vang and fellow Republican Brad Olson, Marvin’s report did not identify any individual donors by name or occupation because all of his individual contributions were reported as non-itemized.
On the Republican side in House District 38A, Charlie Kistler reported raising $3,380.13 since launching his campaign in June, including $2,880.13 in individual contributions and a $500 contribution from the Republican Party’s Senate District 38 organization. After spending $1,962.86, he reported $1,417.27 in cash on hand. Like fellow Republican Robert Marvin, Kistler’s individual contributions were reported as non-itemized, meaning the filing does not identify donors by name or occupation.
Kistler’s Republican primary opponent, Yelena Kurdyumova, had not filed a 2026 campaign finance report with the Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board as of Tuesday morning.
The primary is on August 11 but early voting is already underway. Some locations will also have Saturday voting this weekend. To look up your early voting location or your voting place for Tuesday, visit this Secretary of State link.
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About Tom Gitaa, Editor-in-Chief
Born and raised in Kenya's coastal city of Mombasa, Tom is the Founder, Editor-in-Chief and Publisher of Mshale which has been reporting on the news and culture of African immigrants in the United States since 1995. He has a BA in Business from Metro State University and a Public Leadership Credential from Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government. He was the original host of Talking Drum, the signature current affairs show on the African Broadcasting Network (ABN-America), which was available nationwide in the United States via the Dish Network satellite service. On the show, he interviewed Nobel laureates such as 2004 Nobel Peace prize winner, Professor Wangari Maathai, the first woman from Africa to win the peace prize and heads of states. Tom has served and chaired various boards including Global Minnesota (formerly Minnesota International Center), the sixth largest World Affairs Council in the United States. He has previously served as the first Black President of the Board of Directors at Books for Africa. He also serves on the board of the Minnesota Multicultural Media Consortium. He has previously served two terms on the board of the United Nations Association. An avid runner, he retired from running full marathons after turning 50 and now only focuses on training for half marathons.
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