Georgia Republicans spent nearly every dime they had during the busy campaign season. The state's Democratic party has a little bit more gas left in the tank.

State ethics filings released this week show that the Democratic Party of Georgia spent about $4.2 million and ended the year with roughly $512,000 in its coffers.

The Georgia GOP, meanwhile, spent most of the $6.7 million it raised during the cycle, leaving it with only $188,000 in the bank. That's a contrast from the end of 2010, the last gubernatorial race, when it had $1 million left over.

Among the donors to Democrats during the final stretch was the Georgia Association of Educators, which offered $15,000, and Emory University film professor Matthew Bernstein, who gave $20,000.

The GOP attracted deeper pockets. The Republican National Committee gave more than $150,000, the Republican Governors Association ponied up $50,000 and the National Republican Senatorial Committee chipped in another $15,000 in the final stretch.

As my AJC colleague James Salzer notes, among the GOP's expenses is a post-election $30,000 payment to the fundraising firm of Gov. Nathan Deal's daughter-in-law, Denise Deal.

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Gov. Brian Kemp, here speaking about Hurricane Helene relief bills in May 8, strategically vetoed a few bills in the final hours of Georgia's bill-signing period. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)

Credit: Arvin Temkar/AJC