The Maine Democratic Party ended the first quarter of 2023 on far healthier financial footing than the Maine GOP, according to campaign finance records.
The Maine Republican Party’s primary fundraising committee reported in campaign finance disclosures that it raised just $15,852 in the first quarter of the year.
At the same time, the Maine GOP spent $124,838 on payroll, employee reimbursements, and office related expenses.
That leaves the Republicans’ primary political organizing tool $108,986 in debt as of March 31.
The analogous fundraising committee for the Maine Democrats raised $192,949 and spent $185,733 in the same time period, leaving a positive balance of just $7,216.
Unlike the Maine GOP, the Maine Democrats benefitted from several large transfers at the start of the quarter from legislative fundraising committees, including the Senate Democratic Campaign Committee, which provided $125,000.
Political committees associated with state legislative caucus posted mixed results for the start of the year, but the Democratic committees started the year far more cash flush.
The House Democratic Campaign Committee raised next to nothing, but the committee ended the reporting period with $146,449.86 cash on hand, with its largest expenditures being contributions to the state committee.
The Senate Democratic Campaign Committee started the year with $221,132.51 and ended the reporting period with $105,811.33. During the reporting period, the committee raised a little more than $20,000.
The Maine Senate Republican Majority committee started the year with $21,734.14, raised $40,444.00, spent $10,995.58, and ended the period with $51,182.56 cash on hand.
The House Republican Fund raised no money during the first three months of 2023, but it also spent just $8,353.10 of beginning cash balance $33,311.88.
Although there are still more than 550 days until the 2024 elections, the early numbers suggest Republicans are at a serious fundraising disadvantage across the board.