Gov. Jay Inslee well ahead of GOP challenger Bill Bryant in fundraising

Gov. Jay Inslee enters the final months of his re-election bid with a campaign-cash pile dwarfing that of GOP challenger Bill Bryant.

Inslee reported $3.6 million cash on hand in his campaign fund through August, compared with Bryant’s $217,000 — a 16-fold advantage — according to reports filed Monday with the state Public Disclosure Commission.

Bryant’s cash deficit is likely to hamper his efforts to become the first Republican elected governor of Washington in more than three decades.

For the election cycle, Inslee has raised $8.2 million to Bryant’s $2.9 million.

The state Democratic Party has sent more than $1.6 million to Inslee’s campaign. Other major donors include unions, tribes, attorneys, tech workers and environmental advocates, according to data from the National Institute on Money in State Politics.

Bryant has received more than $500,000 from the state Republican Party, and support from agriculture, real estate and other businesses.

This story was originally published September 13, 2016 at 4:55 PM with the headline "Gov. Jay Inslee well ahead of GOP challenger Bill Bryant in fundraising."