DFL governor hopefuls lead GOPers in fundraising so far, with no Pawlenty

Minnesota Democrats are walloping their Republican rivals in the fundraising race to be the state’s next governor by a more than 4-1 ratio.

The six Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party candidates vying to replace Gov. Mark Dayton raised a combined $2.8 million in 2017, according to campaign finance reports released Thursday. Five Republican gubernatorial candidates, including two who recently left the race, raised just under $600,000.

Top fundraisers for each party were Congressman Tim Walz, in the DFL, who brought in $1.1 million, and 2014 Republican candidate for governor Jeff Johnson, who raised almost $263,000. The next largest hauls went to Chris Coleman for the DFL and Keith Downey for Republicans.

The governor’s race is wide open because Dayton is not seeking a third term. Next week, Minnesotans will start to show which candidates they favor when they vote in straw polls during precinct caucuses.

Read more: https://www.twincities.com/2018/02/02/minnesota-fundraising-race-for-governor-by-the-numbers/