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Daines Campaign Funding Shows Heavy Hand From Out-Of-State Donors

Sen. Daines Addressing Montana Energy Issues
File Photo
Sen. Daines Addressing Montana Energy Issues

A third of Republican U.S. Senator Steve Daines’ financial support in the last three months has come from committees representing business, labor and other interest groups — the vast majority located outside of Montana.

Sen. Daines Addressing Montana Energy Issues
Credit File Photo
Sen. Daines Addressing Montana Energy Issues

Political Committees, including PACs, have been a major funding source for Daines’ reelection campaign since the early days of the 2020 election cycle.

According to finance reports filed to the federal government updated Monday, more than 42% of the nearly $3.5 million in contributions to Daine’s campaign this cycle have come from committees.

Over 57% of Daines’ contributions have come from individuals.

Daine’s early spending shows he’s not buying up TV ad time, yet. He’s spent over $140,000 the last three months on direct mailers.

He’s spent several thousand more in online advertising on Google and Facebook.

So far, two Democrats are seeking their party’s nomination to challenge Daines in 2020. Helena Mayor Wilmot Collins, who entered the race in mid-May, reports raising just over $91,000 for his campaign. A thousand dollars of that came from the candidate himself.

John Mues from Loma, Montana has not yet filed any finance reports having entered the race just last week.

Copyright 2020 Montana Public Radio. To see more, visit .

Corin Cates-Carney is the Flathead Valley reporter for MTPR.