. >> hisfi rac times as much campaign cash this year as he did in 2014. $15,000 in all. >> teaching civics, which is what i taught, esellent preparation for running for office. >> reporter: his challenger, former teac jessica sutter has raised more. $20,000. you found, toour credit, 250 plus people to write a check to you. did that surprise you? >> it humbled me. >> reporter: across town, the war chests are big we are candidates raising $45,000, even $65,000. >> in order to win, elections cost mey. >> reporter: d.c. state board of education is much different than the school boards in the suburbs. this board can't make policy. they ca't hire or fire t mhea t school casndar. ole is obscure. created in 2007 as part of a mayoral education in the dis ict, the d.c. state boa of education can only approve or rnsapprove of changes made by other d.c. govent officials. the i-team pored through more than 1,000 donations and found donors from nozrly two states cut checks to d.c. candidates in this race, that's not counting spending by special interest groups. >> it should about local concerns. local c