By Kevin Hendricks — Didi Okpareke’s congressional campaign paid for Facebook and Instagram ads that popped up on screens more than 150,000 times this summer, mostly in New Mexico. Her latest federal campaign finance report says she spent nothing.
The Republican nominee for New Mexico’s 1st Congressional District spent between $500 and $599 on several ads that ran from Aug. 24 to Sept. 17, according to Meta’s political ad library. Her campaign committee paid for the ad campaign, the library shows. In each one, Okpareke pitches her pharmacy background, saying health care “needs someone who has practiced it.”
But the quarterly report her campaign filed with the Federal Election Commission on Oct. 15 shows $0 raised and $0 spent for the three months ending Sept. 30. It lists no debts. The campaign’s bank balance, $42,740.98, didn’t budge a penny from where it stood June 30.
Okpareke’s campaign did not respond to an email seeking comment Thursday.
Federal law requires congressional campaigns to report their fundraising and spending on a set schedule. That lets voters see who bankrolls a campaign and how it spends the money. Campaigns can correct mistakes by filing amended reports.
Okpareke, a Rio Rancho pharmacist, won the uncontested Republican primary in June. By June 30, she had raised $100,340. Incumbent Democrat Melanie Stansbury had raised more than $1.3 million.
Despite that gap, Okpareke has run a visible campaign. Her social media ads and campaign signs are out, and both candidates have done local radio and television interviews.
Voters choose between Okpareke and Stansbury on Nov. 3. Early voting runs through Oct. 31.
This story will be updated if Okpareke responds.
BY THE NUMBERS
- $500-599: Okpareke’s Meta ad spending, Aug. 24–Sept. 17
- 150,000–175,000: Times those ads appeared on screens
- 90%: Share of viewers located in New Mexico
- $0: Raised and spent, per her July–September FEC report
- $42,740.98: Campaign cash on hand June 30 and Sept. 30, unchanged
- $100,340: Okpareke’s total raised through June 30
- $1.3 million+: Stansbury’s total raised through June 30
See the campaign records yourself:
- Okpareke campaign finance reports: fec.gov/data/committee/C00908509/
- Find your polling place and early voting sites: nmvote.org
- Early voting: Now through Saturday, Oct. 31
- Election Day: Tuesday, Nov. 3
Share this story and start a conversation
