Metro At-large Council member John Cooper has struggled to gain traction in fundraising, according to the most recent campaign finance disclosures in the Nashville mayor’s race, but thanks to self-financing he has outspent his nearest competitor by a more than two-to-one advantage.

Based on campaign contributions, Cooper is in third place having raised $47,835 in the fundraising period July 1 through July 23.

He trails Mayor David Briley, who raised $187,271 in the same period from donors, and retired Vanderbilt professor Carol Swain, who raised $91,965. Cooper is just ahead of state Rep. John Ray Clemmons who raised $44,672.

Despite lagging behind his competitors, Cooper is lapping the field on spending. He gave his campaign $900,000 in loans during the latest reporting period. Overall, Cooper has loaned his campaign $1.4 million this election season, while raising $312,972.

He spent over $950,000 since July 1, mostly on television ads and campaign mail pieces, while Briley spent less than half that — $427,862, also largely on television ads.

In fact, Cooper has outspent all of his rivals combined between July 1 and July 23.

Cooper was a late entrant to the race, as the last major candidate to announce his bid to unseat Briley.

"This should be a red flag to Nashville voters," Briley campaign spokesman Morey Hill said.

"John Cooper is running this campaign out of his personal checkbook and shows very little neighborhood and community support. He has given himself 5x more than what the people of Nashville have contributed to his campaign. Nashville deserves better than a developer trying to buy the mayor's office."

But Cooper's campaign says the personal loan will allow him to be mayor in the "right way."

"We are following the Phil Bredesen model," Cooper campaign spokes person Katie Lentile said in a statement to the Tennessean, regarding his personal spending decision. "This allows us to be mayor in the right way."

Bredesen, who is backing Briley in campaign, has in the past contributed some of his personal wealth to his prior campaigns for mayor and other offices.

Cooper's statement touches on criticism of Briley's campaign for taking donations from developers and other special interests.

"Mayor Briley has received donations from more than 1,000 individuals in different sectors around the county," Hill said.

Clemmons also took out an additional $20,000 loan, bringing total loans this election to $170,000.

CAMPAIGN SPENDING THROUGH JUNE:See who has raised the most money in the campaign for Nashville mayor

The latest campaign finance reports, due Thursday, are the last before the Aug. 1 election.

Here's how much the major candidates for mayor have raised from contributors between July 1 and July 23 and how much each has spent.

Fundraising from donors

David Briley — $187,271

Carol Swain — $91,965

John Cooper — $47,835

John Ray Clemmons — $44,672

Personal loans

John Cooper — $900,000

John Ray Clemmons — $20,000

David Briley — $0

Carol Swain — $0

Total spending

John Cooper — $953,690

David Briley — $427,862

John Ray Clemmons — $152,340

Carol Swain — $91,661

Less spending than 2015 mayor's race

Cooper’s personal contribution in the recent period is reminiscent of Bill Freeman’s spending in the final fundraising period leading up to August 2015 mayoral election.

Freeman gave his campaign $995,000 in that period, while raising $158,358. Freeman also was successful fundraising, bringing in over $1 million from donations.

All together, this election has paled in spending compared to the 2015 race, when the city saw heavy spending by several candidates.

Freeman largely led the way, spending $4.5 million before the general election with his nearest rival Charles Robert Bone, spending just under $2.3 million.

David Fox spent $1.9 million and Megan Barry spent $1.1 million.

Freeman’s campaign spending — significantly bolstered with $3.65 million in personal contributions — is believed to be the most ever by a Nashville mayoral candidate.