It’s shaping up to be an even more lopsided gubernatorial election season than expected.
Gov. Peter Shumlin has $1,077,000 in cash going into the election season, and has spent three times more than his opponent has raised this year. His challenger, Republican Scott Milne, has a measly $20,000 in the bank; Shumlin has spent $65,000 this year.
Milne who got a late start has yet to make a formal announcement or launch a website. Last week the North Pomfret businessman said he hoped to raise $35,000 by the July campaign finance deadline. Half of the $20,000 Milne has managed to sock away came from the Boies family based in New York state.
Although Milne has said he wants to run a low-budget campaign, at this point he may have no choice. The travel agency executive has only raised 10 percent of what he says he needs this election cycle.
Campaign Finance Data
“We can run a strong campaign for $200,000,” Milne said. “If we get more than that we’ll spend it wisely to get our message out.”
Shumlin did not issue a statement with the release of his campaign finance data to the press. (The governor says he will not campaign until after Labor Day.) His treasurer, Kate O’Connor, acknowledged that the governor has raised $93,350 since March and went straight into the campaign pitch. “Since 2011 over 10,000 new jobs have been created,” she wrote. “Vermont’s economic recovery has been diverse, growing jobs in local foods and agriculture, manufacturing and renewable energy. We now have more solar jobs on a per capita basis than any state in the nation. We’re strengthening one of the best education systems in America, through quality early childhood education and universal Pre-K to programs that allow Vermont kids to earn up to two years of tuition-free college education.”
Dean Corren, the Progressive who is running for lieutenant governor and is seeking the Democratic nomination, managed to raise $19,263 in donations of $100 or less from 862 people. Because he raised more than $17,500 from more than 750 contributors who gave less than $50 by the June 12 deadline, he qualified for public financing that will bring his total available campaign funds up to $200,000. At this point Corren has three times more money than incumbent Republican Lt. Gov. Phil Scott. To date, Scott has raised $61,047 and has about $78,325 in cash on hand. Under Vermont’s public campaign financing law, Corren can spend $50,000 on the primary and $150,000 on the general election.
Scott has vehemently opposed public financing in recent statements to fellow Republicans. As a state senator, Scott voted for minor changes to the law in 2005 and did not propose alternative legislation that year, according to Legislative Council bill tracking records.
There are no other competitive statewide races this year for state auditor, treasurer, secretary of state or attorney general.
Overall, House and Senate race fundraising is low-key with candidates even in Chittenden County raising just a few thousand dollars. Sen. Tim Ashe, D/P-Chittenden County, is reporting no contributions and $24.75 in expenditures. His colleague, Phil Baruth, has raised $975. The biggest fundraisers in the state’s most populous county so far are Sen. David Zuckerman ($10,940) and Republican Joy Limoge who has raised just under $14,000.
Dustin Degree, a Republican candidate for state Senate in Franklin County, has brought in $15,260. His chief rivals for the seat — former Democratic state senator Sara Kittell and incumbent Norm McAllister, a Republican — have raised less than $3,500 each. McAllister has brought in $3,300; Kittell has under $2,000.
Vying for the No. 1 spot is the Vermont Democratic House Campaign, which has brought in a whopping $108,019 this cycle. The House Republican PAC, by comparison, has rolled up $12,260.
The CommonSense Leadership PAC, which supports Republican candidates, has banked $27,060, and the Rutland GOPAC brought in $17,825 this election cycle.
The Senate Leadership Committee, a Democratic pass-through for state Senate candidates, raised $20,363 this cycle.
CORRECTION: With carry forward funds, Lt. Gov. Phil Scott’s cash on hand is $78,325.
