Updated 11:55 p.m.
Republican Mayor Mark Lauretti of Shelton and Democratic state Comptroller Kevin P. Lembo each raised about $145,000 in their first months as a candidate or exploratory candidate for governor in 2018, new highs for non-incumbents in the era of public financing in Connecticut.
Democrat Chris Mattei, a former federal prosecutor seeking office for the first time, closely followed the two experienced candidates, raising $118,343 in his first two-plus months as an exploratory candidate.
But Lauretti’s debut with $145,090 was the most impressive: As a declared candidate for governor participating in the voluntary public financing program, he was limited to individual contributions of no more than $100. As exploratory candidates, Lembo, who raised $143,701, and Mattei could accept up to $375.
To qualify for public financing, a candidate for governor must raise $250,000 in contributions of between $5 and $100, and 90 percent of the money must come from Connecticut donors. The public grants for a major-party nominee are about $6.5 million for the general election.
The field of would-be successors to Gov. Dannel P. Malloy, a Democrat who announced on April 13 he would not seek a third term, is a mix of candidates and exploratory candidates. The latter can use their contributions for a range of state offices.
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Rep. Prasad Srinivasan, R-Glastonbury, a declared candidate since December, reported raising $66,367, giving him more than $205,000 in qualifying contributions — about 80 percent of his $250,000.
Republican Peter Lumaj reported raising $74,425 for the quarter, bringing the total raised by his exploratory committee to $281,130 since September. Lumaj, who has raised major portions of his funds out of state, has raised little in qualifying contributions.
The finances of Trumbull First Selectman Tim Herbst, a Republican, spanned two committees as he terminated an exploratory committee he opened in January and created a candidate committee on June 8. He raised $65,147 in the quarter: $24,763 through his exploratory committee and $40,384 through his candidate committee.
In total, Herbst now has raised $148,590 since January.
His first quarterly report as a candidate shows total receipts of $92,972. That’s the sum of $52,588 rolled over from his exploratory committee to his candidate committee, then added to the $40,384 he raised in his first weeks as a declared candidate.
Danbury Mayor Mark Boughton, a Republican, raised $70,990 in the quarter, bringing his total to $162,151 since November. Steve Obsitnik, another Republican, raised $92,840, bringing his total to $201,567.
Lauretti, Lembo and Mattei were among seven candidates or exploratory candidates who began fundraising in April. The others: Democrat Jonathan Harris, $88,000; Republican David Walker, $72,156; Democratic Mayor Joe Ganim of Bridgeport, $36,165; and Republican Joe Visconti, $2,150.
Harris, Walker and Ganim raised their money as exploratory candidates. Visconti is a declared candidate.
Walker, the former comptroller general of the U.S., filed papers Monday closing his exploratory committee and opening a candidate committee. Dan Drew, the Democratic mayor of Middletown, announced Monday night he will end the exploratory phase of his campaign Wednesday and become a declared candidate.
Collectively, the eight Republicans have raised more than $1.1 million, compared to about $600,000 by the five Democrats.
“It’s astonishing to see the number of people willing to invest in stopping Democrats in a so-called blue state,” said J.R Romano, the state Republican chairman.
“They’re all decent numbers,” said Roy Occhiogrosso, a Democratic strategist on both of Malloy’s successful campaigns.
Occhiogrosso said qualifying for public financing will be the hardest task for the candidates: “The sooner you take that off the table as an issue to worry about, the better off you are.”
Politician | Party | Status | Raised in Q2 | Cash on Hand | Total Raised | Money Spent | Launch Date |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Peter Lumaj | Republican | exploratory | $74,425 | $125,614 | $281,130 | $155,515 | Sept. 6, 2016 |
Mark Boughton | Republican | exploratory | $70,990 | $84,299.00 | $162,151 | $77,872 | Nov. 22, 2016 |
Prasad Srinivasan | Republican | candidate | $66,367 | $178,854 | $205,311 | $26,457 | Dec. 16, 2016 |
Tim Herbst * | Republican | candidate | $92,972 | $80,909 | $92,972* ($148,590 through both committees.) |
$12,062 | Jan. 11, 2017/ June 8, 2017 |
Dan Drew | Democrat | exploratory | $71,006 | $26,393 | $177,133 | $150,740 | Jan. 12, 2017 |
Steve Obsitnik | Republican | exploratory | $92,840 | $109,984 | $201,567 | $92,671 | Jan. 13, 2017 |
Mark Lauretti | Republican | candidate | $145,090 | $101,622 | $145,090 | $43,467 | Apr. 5, 2017 |
David Walker | Republican | exploratory | $72,156 | $46,411 | $72,156 | $25,744 | Apr. 10, 2017 |
Chris Mattei | Democrat | exploratory | $118,343 | $54,037 | $118,343 | $64,306 | Apr. 18, 2017 |
Jonathan Harris | Democrat | exploratory | $88,957 | $46,925 | $88,957 | $42,031 | Apr. 18, 2017 |
Joe Visconti | Republican | candidate | $2,150 | $497 | $2,150 | $1,652 | Apr. 19, 2017 |
Kevin Lembo | Democrat | exploratory | $143,701 | $78,583 | $143,701 | $66,438 | Apr. 27, 2017 |
Joe Ganim | Democrat | exploratory | $36,165 | $33,085 | $36,165 | $3,080 | Apr. 28, 2017 |
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