The campaign of Christina Hagan, the Republican challenger in the 13th Congressional District race, spent more money during the first 14 days of October than it did between July and September.

Hagan’s pre-general election campaign finance report shows spending of $222,286.34 between Oct. 1 and 14. Her campaign spent $211,511.77 in the third quarter.

Meanwhile, U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan, D-Howland, spent $258,225.31 during those same 14 days — even more than Hagan.

Much of the late spending went toward media advertisements, according to reports filed with the Federal Election Commission.

The campaign of Ryan, a nine-term incumbent, paid $130,080 to CounterPoint Messaging LLC of Nashville, Tenn., for commercials in the pre-general filing period. It paid $251,302 to the company for the same expense in the third quarter.

Hagan of Marlboro Township paid $128,000 to Strategic Media Placement of Delaware, Ohio, for commercials.

Her campaign also gave $40,000 to the Ohio Republican Party’s central and executive committee,

listing it as a “donation.” Those expenditures are usually designed for the party to help campaigns through advertising or campaign mail.

Hagan paid $15,380 to Right Point Direct of Washington, D.C., for a poll.

Ryan listed a $24,300 payment to Anzalone Liszt and Grove Research Inc. of Montgomery, Ala., for “research.” The company is known for its polling.

During the first 14 days of this month, Ryan’s campaign received $258,834.35 in contributions compared to $81,647.90 for Hagan.

Ryan received $116,620.56 from individuals and $48,000 from political action committees. Hagan picked up $79,647.90 from individuals and $2,000 from PACs.

As of Oct. 14, Ryan had raised $1,634,065.20 overall for his re-election effort and spent $1,540,264.53. In comparison, Hagan had raised $792,589.74 and spent $532,439.01 on the challenge.

Including money they carried over from previous campaigns, Ryan had $282,225.31 left in his campaign account as of Oct. 14 compared to $261,034.24 for Hagan.

The FEC also requires congressional campaigns to file contributions of at least $1,000 each after the Oct. 14 deadline until the Nov. 3 election.

Ryan’s campaign listed $75,800 in contributions of at least $1,000 each since Oct. 14 compared to $9,800 for Hagan.

The FEC doesn’t ask for contributions of less than $1,000 each or expenditures of any amount until after the election. Dec. 3 is the deadline for congressional candidates to file post-general election reports for the period between Oct. 15 and Nov. 23.

The Ohio Freedom Fund, an outside special interest group that is backing Hagan and opposing Ryan, showed it raised and spent no money on this race since Sept. 18.

The group had spent $150,000 in the third quarter on commercials targeting Ryan. It also spent $97,500 during the primary to help Hagan and criticize Louis G. Lyras of Campbell, who unsuccessfully sought the Republican nomination for the seat.

The five-county 13th District includes most of Mahoning and Trumbull counties.

dskolnick@tribtoday.com