Collins releases latest fundraising totals, carries $4 millions into summer months

Republican U.S. Sen. Susan Collins of Maine. BDN file photo by Troy Bennett.

Republican U.S. Sen. Susan Collins of Maine. BDN file photo by Troy Bennett.

Incumbent Republican U.S. Senator Susan Collins on Wednesday released her latest campaign fundraising figures, illustrating the senator’s strong position heading into the summer months.

During the three-month reporting period that ended June 30, Collins for Senate raised more than $900,000, bringing her total campaign fundraising effort to date up to roughly $5.4 million. By the end of the period, Collins had more than $4 million cash on hand.

“We are very pleased to have hit our goals once again this quarter,” said Josh Tardy, co-chair Collins’ campaign, in a press release. “Our fundraising pace continues to increase, putting us into an excellent position as we get closer to the campaign starting in earnest this fall.”

According to Katie Mae Simpson, campaign manager for Collins’ Democratic opponent, Shenna Bellows, the Democrat will report $563,000 in contributions for the three-month period from April through June. That brings Bellows’ campaign fundraising total to more than $1.32 million. She’s got $583,000 cash on hand.

“We’re excited to see such sustained grassroots support heading into the next phase of this race,” Simpson said in a prepared statement. “We attracted more than 12,000 individual donations this quarter from nearly 8,500 donors, both up significantly from past quarters. Our average donation is sixty dollars, which isn’t something Susan Collins and her big-money corporate contributors can say. Our grassroots support has been significant from the beginning and is continuing to grow heading into Shenna’s walk across the state.”

Collins and her Democratic opponent, Shenna Bellows, have until July 15 to file their latest campaign finance reports. After that,  we’ll have a better idea of exactly how much money, and from what sources, each candidate raised.

Mario Moretto

About Mario Moretto

Mario Moretto has been a Maine journalist, in print and online publications, since 2009. He joined the Bangor Daily News in 2012, first as a general assignment reporter in his native Hancock County and, now, in the State House. Mario left the BDN in 2015.