How much did labor groups spend in 2008?

We're still working through the campaign finance reports, but here are the numbers Dome has collected so far on spending in state races by unions and employee associations:

National Education Association: $1,935,703

Service Employees International Union: $1,810,569

International Brotherhood of Teamsters: $334,117

N.C. Association of Educators: $267,230

State Employees Association of N.C.: $194,800

United Food and Commercial Workers Union: $116,500

International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers: $41,500

Communications Workers of America: $18,750

UNITE HERE: $16,500

United Auto Workers: $9,000

N.C. Chapter of the AFL-CIO: $4,000

That adds up to $4.7 million for the 2008 cycle. However, it does not take into account money given by unions to groups such as the Democratic Governors Association, which also spent heavily here.

It also does not include spending in the U.S. Senate race.

The UAW gave $9,000 in 2008 races.

The auto workers union gave $4,000 to Gov.-elect Beverly Perdue and $1,000 each to Lt. Gov.-elect Walter Dalton, labor commissioner candidate Mary Fant Donnan and state Rep. Lorene Coates, according to campaign finance reports.

It also gave $500 each to Insurance Commissioner-elect Wayne Goodwin, Superintendent of Public Instruction June Atkinson, Treasurer-elect Janet Cowell and Rep. Tricia Cotham.

Goodwin's donation came while he was participating in public financing program for campaigns and would have had to be returned, but there is no record of a refund.