By Marina Villeneuve, The Associated Press
AUGUSTA, Maine — The loss of a liberal megadonor’s millions has led Maine Democrats fighting to regain the state Senate to lean on a national Democratic Party group.
The Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee doubled its spending in Maine after hedge fund manager S. Donald Sussman shifted his contributions to the presidential election.
Between 2008 and 2014, Sussman gave $2.1 million to Maine Democrats and another $3.2 million to political action committees supporting liberal causes. The donations have dried up since he and Democratic U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree announced their impending divorce last year.
But Democrats have found other sources of money.
Campaign finance reports show Democrats have raised $5.2 million, about as much as in 2014. Political groups have spent $1.5 million on races for seven Republican-controlled seats outside Democrats’ southern Maine base.