U.S. Rep. Chet Edwards, D-Waco, has a $1.1 million advantage when it comes to money in the bank heading into the final stretch of his congressional race against Bryan challenger Bill Flores, according to federal campaign finance reports that became public late Friday.

Edwards reported raising $705,000 for the three-month period running through September. He finished the quarter with $1.46 million on hand.

Flores, a retired oil executive, reported raising $540,000 and ending the period with $302,000 in the bank.

The deadline for filing the quarterly reports with the Federal Election Commission was Friday at midnight.

Though Edwards, who’s seeking an 11th term in Congress, has the money lead, the Flores’ campaign has been aided by outside spending.

The National Republican Congressional Committee and Iowa-based American Future Fund collectively spent nearly $900,000 on the race mostly on TV ads attacking Edwards, according to the Sunlight Foundation, which tracks independent spending.

While the NRCC discloses its donors, the American Future Fund is not required to do so.

No comparable amount has been spent so far to assist Edwards, though the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee is scheduled to air ads in the 17th Congressional District during the last two weeks of the race.

The FEC requires candidates to file financial reports covering the first two weeks of October on Thursday.

mshapiro@wacotrib.com

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