The same people who decry the role of money in politics — ie. the media — are often the same ones who avidly report on campaign fundraising as a metric of how the respective candidates are faring.
With the today’s deadline for publicizing financial filings over the first six months of next year’s race for governor, the cumulative sums each committee has raked in since January are one indication of enthusiasm for various candidates — and of their campaign’s viability in the months ahead.
While several campaign committees’ reports have yet to post on the Maine Ethics Commission website, by 3 p.m. on Tuesday at least eight were up for viewing.
Democrat Hannah Pingree raised the most of all gubernatorial candidates in this period, reporting $542,588 with $503,392 on hand as of June 30. Pingree’s former step-father, Donald Sussman, is a billionaire and her mother, First District Congresswoman Chellie Pingree, is a multi-millionaire.
Shenna Bellows, Maine’s incumbent secretary of state (an office that oversees elections) followed closely behind Pingree having raised $529,044 and retaining $274,291 on hand (and having spent $187,397). Angus King III came in just behind her at $434,359 and having spent $251,953 so far leaving him with with $182,406 on hand. Former Senate president Troy Jackson raised $400,409 with $320,904 remaining on hand.
Republican Robert “Bobby” Charles led the GOP pack with $257,129 in contributions plus an additional $70,000 he himself has given his campaign, totaling about $325,000 raised to date. Having spent $25,321 as of June 30, his campaign has $301,805 on hand.
Two other Republicans also logged fundraising hauls in the six figure category: Gorham businessman Owen McCarthy reportedly raised $192,167, and Falmouth businessman David Jones raised $149,330. Publicly-financed candidate Sen. Jim Libby (R-Cumberland) posted $5,055 raised, and former South Paris selectman Robert Wessels raised $28,273.
Lesser-known Republican candidates Steven Sheppard raised $1,100 and Ken Pinet $605.
Meanwhile Independent candidate Sen. Rick Bennett (R-Oxford), reported having raised $202,900 with $163,396 on hand. As Bennett only entered the race weeks ago, his haul stands out in the fund-raising sprint category.
