Jared Golden has an enormous fundraising head begin on his Republican opponents
A model of this text was initially printed in The Each day Temporary, our Maine politics publication. Join right here for day by day information and perception from politics editor Michael Shepherd.
U.S. Rep. Jared Golden is off to an enormous fundraising head begin over the Republicans vying to oust him within the 2024 marketing campaign.
It doesn’t imply the third-term Democrat is unbeatable, however the three Republicans vying for the chance to oust him have low profiles and quite a bit to show. That was underscored by the large fundraising determine posted this weekend by Golden and subpar ones from two Republicans.
The incumbent raised $1.4 million by Sept. 30, whereas challengers Robert Cross of Dedham and state Rep. Michael Soboleski of Phillips introduced in $58,000 and $13,000, respectively. Up to date filings by the tip of final month have been due over the weekend.
The context: The one candidate lacking was state Rep. Austin Theriault of Fort Kent, who didn’t report as a result of he rolled out his marketing campaign close to the tip of final month.
However he mentioned lower than every week in that he had raised $100,000 from Mainers alone and he’s backed by Home Republicans’ marketing campaign arm. He ought to have a very good mixture of Maine and nationwide cash to work with by the point we will take a look at his funds in mid-January.
Soboleski has run an lively marketing campaign thus far, and it’s value noting that his run was solely lively for about 9 days earlier than the submitting deadline. Nonetheless, candidates sometimes line up huge pledges earlier than they roll out their campaigns. This quantity is small when you think about that opening day is often one of many strongest ones for any marketing campaign.
The candidates must introduce themselves earlier than they dream of ousting Golden. The lawmakers are freshmen and aren’t well-known besides of their remoted districts. Theriault has reputation and nationwide connections for his profession as a NASCAR driver, whereas Cross comes from a notable Bangor-area enterprise household and is drawing on that neighborhood for cash early on.
For now, Golden’s operation is on one other stage. For instance, he has gotten $82,000 in contributions bundled by the bipartisan and influential American Israel Public Affairs Committee, in addition to $215,000 from political committees together with labor unions and centrist teams.
When Golden began operating for Congress in 2018, his operation was additionally dwarfed from the outset by that of Rep. Bruce Poliquin, a Republican. However he was nonetheless elevating cash at a wholesome clip for a major in opposition to Lucas St. Clair, a rich darling of the environmental neighborhood right here. Maybe absent Theriault, his challengers haven’t ramped up as rapidly.
What’s subsequent: There’s nonetheless time for everyone. Former Gov. Paul LePage’s rebel win within the 2010 major confirmed us that cash doesn’t all the time win these races. These numbers present us that Golden goes to be awfully laborious to beat, however that Theriault may need the sting on his Republican colleagues.
