State-level races cost $81m in '08

Council of State races cost $26.3 million more in 2008.

According to an analysis by the National Institute on Money in State Politics, state-level non-judicial campaigns cost $80.9 million last year.

That was a 48 percent increase from 2004.

Most of that money came in the races for governor and lieutenant governor, which went from $19.2 million in 2004 to $42.1 million last year.

Other statewide candidates went up slightly, from $7.4 million to $8.1 million.

Legislative races also remained relatively level, with candidates for the House and Senate receiving $30 million in 2008, up from $28.1 million.

More data is available on the nonpartisan group's Web site.