Troy Jackson raises $20.4M in a furious Maine Senate campaign ramp-up

Politics

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Democrat Troy Jackson raised $20.4 million in his first three months in the U.S. Senate race, four times what Republican Sen. Susan Collins brought in, but he spent it in a furious ramp-up and entered October with less cash than the incumbent.

Jackson’s report, filed with the Federal Election Commission minutes before the candidates met for their final debate Thursday in Bangor , is the first look at his finances since Maine Democrats nominated him at a special convention in July. He replaced Graham Platner, who left the race over sexual assault allegations.

The reports underline the national stakes of a race that could decide control of the Senate. Both candidates got about 85% of their disclosed contributions from outside Maine. Meanwhile, outside groups have spent or reserved $139.1 million on ads since late July, nearly four times what the campaigns and their party partners have, according to AdImpact data.

Jackson’s campaign touted the haul in a release Thursday, saying he had nearly 200,000 donors and that nearly 95% of contributions were under $100. It left out what the campaign spent and has left.

Jackson spent $16.5 million and had $4 million on hand at the end of September, along with roughly $1 million in debt to a vendor. Collins raised $5.2 million and spent $10.9 million over the same quarter, ending it with $5.4 million and no debt.

The Democrat’s money runs largely through ActBlue, the online fundraising platform, which processed $17.1 million, about 90% of what he raised from individuals. His average gift there in July and August was about $50. September’s haul won’t be disclosed until next week.

The report was a flashpoint at debates on Tuesday and Thursday. At the first one, Collins noted that Jackson had not disclosed his fundraising yet . He responded with a pledge to release the report on Wednesday morning, a day before it was due. His campaign did not submit it until minutes before the Thursday debate.

“It was my first one,” Jackson said then. “I had to make sure it was right.”

Jackson has said he will not take corporate PAC money, a pledge that does not cover labor unions. Nearly 80 PACs gave him $352,000, many of them unions. They include the machinists and painters unions, which gave $5,000 each and paid Jackson as a consultant just before and during his run for governor that ended with a third-place June primary finish.

The report lists 960 donors who gave at least $3,500, the per-election maximum, including 130 from Maine. Many gave $7,000, which is allowed because the special convention that nominated Jackson counts as a separate election under federal rules. The campaign designated about $1.1 million to that contest.

Collins is leaning more on outside help. Groups backing her have put $85.3 million into ads since late July, nearly seven times what she and her party partners have spent. Outside groups have spent $53.9 million backing Jackson since he took over the nomination.