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With Primaries Looming, Moody Leads GOP In Fundraising For Governor’s Race, Cote Leads Democrats

Democratic candidate for governor Adam Cote and Republican candidate Shawn Moody continue to lead their respective primary opponents in campaign cash, but two candidates utilizing Maine’s public financing system are also in a strong position heading into the final 40 days before the June 12 election.

Cote, a Sanford attorney and military veteran, hauled in over $278,000 over the reporting period between Jan. 1 and April 24, bringing his total donations to over $804,000 for the campaign. Moody, a Gorham native and founder of Moody’s Collision Centers, brought in $289,000 over the period, to bring his total to over $575,000.

Cote has over $460,000 in cash and announced yesterday that some of his donations will finance a television ad that begins airing Wednesday.

Moody, who has donated $303,000 to his own campaign, has over $408,000 in cash, an amount that dwarfs two of his rivals, state Rep. Kenneth Fredette and former Department of Health and Human Services chief Mary Mayhew. But Garrett Mason, the majority leader in the state Senate, has over $210,000 in cash – and in line to receive more through the Maine Clean Election Act, the public campaign finance system.

Garrett Mason, the majority leader in the state Senate, has over $210,000 in cash – and in line to receive more through the Maine Clean Election Act, the public campaign finance system

Mason has already received $400,000 in MCEA funds, and will qualify for another $150,000, according to officials from the Maine Ethics Commission, which administers the program.

By comparison, Mayhew has just over $83,000 in cash after pulling in $102,000 over the reporting period to bring her total for the campaign to over $300,000.

Fredette, the House minority leader, pulled in over $6,100 for the period, to bring his campaign total to over $20,600. He has over $3,284 in cash.

Cote is closely followed by Attorney General Janet Mills in the Democratic field of seven candidates. Mills pulled in over $221,000 for the period, bringing her campaign total to over $571,000. She has close to $280,000 in cash.

Former Democratic House Speaker Mark Eves received over $145,000 for the period, bringing his total to over $305,000. Eves lags Cote and Mills in terms of available cash, posting $87,000 in reports filed Tuesday at midnight.  

Cote, Eves and Mills lead the Democratic field in fundraising, but just like Mason’s use of the clean election system is equalizing the Republican cash contest, so too is lobbyist Betsy Sweet for the Democratic one.

Sweet has already received $400,000 in public funds and is set to receive another $150,000, according to ethics commission officials. She also has $97,000 in seed money, leaving her with $474,000 in available cash for the campaign -- about $14,000 more than Cote.

Portland state Sen. Mark Dion picked up $16,000 for the period, to bring his campaign total to $31,000. He has just over $4,400 in cash.

Donna Dion, of Biddeford, has received $1,080 for her campaign.

Former Portland Rep. Diane Russell did not file by the midnight deadline.

Independent Alan Caron of Freeport has raised $495,270, including $215,000 for the period. He has $333,000 in cash remaining. Caron and his wife have loaned $450,000 to the campaign so far.

Terry Hayes, a Buckfield independent and the third candidate using the clean election system, has received $292,000 from it so far. She has $120,000 cash remaining.

Journalist Steve Mistler is Maine Public’s chief politics and government correspondent. He is based at the State House.