Sara Gideon expands fundraising lead over Susan Collins in Maine U.S. Senate race

[TexasTowelie]

House Speaker Sara Gideon, the frontrunner in an upcoming Democratic primary to challenge U.S. Sen. Susan Collins, raised $8.1 million during the pre-primary period, extending her fundraising lead over the incumbent Republican.

Updated fundraising reports were due to the federal government on Thursday covering the period from April 1 through June 24. Gideon’s fundraising surge put her over $23 million in total money raised. She spent $7.2 million in the period, leaving her with $5.5 million in cash on hand. It is the first time she has been left with more cash than Collins after a fundraising period.

Collins raised $3 million while spending $3.6 million, according to federal filings. That brings her total fundraising this cycle to $16.2 million. Her campaign had $5 million in cash on hand at the end of the period.

The U.S. Senate race is already the most expensive in Maine’s history. Gideon’s total raised for the period exceeds the $8 million spent by Collins during her 2008 race against then-U.S. Rep. Tom Allen. She won easily in what was previously the priciest campaign in state history.

Read more: https://bangordailynews.com/2020/07/02/politics/sara-gideon-expands-fundraising-lead-over-susan-collins-in-maine-u-s-senate-race/