Minnesota: Dollars Suggest Different Leaders

Though state Rep. Erin Murphy (D-St. Paul) and Hennepin County Commissioner Jeff Johnson (R) won their respective state party convention endorsement, the campaign resources are breaking much differently.  According to the latest Minnesota campaign finance reports for the period covering January 1 – May 31, 2018, former Gov. Tim Pawlenty is dominating the Republican money war, while US Rep. Tim Walz (D-Mankato) is the Democratic fundraising leader.
 
According to the reports, former Gov. Pawlenty has $1.3 million in his campaign account as compared to Mr. Johnson’s $186,000.  Despite not officially announcing his gubernatorial effort until April 5th, though he began raising money in early March, Mr. Pawlenty was able to raise $1.7 million for the first period versus Mr. Johnson’s $169,000 for his candidacy that was announced early in the year.  For the Democrats, Rep. Walz outraised Rep. Murphy $888,000 to $259,000, and dwarfs her cash-on-hand total, $685,000 to $85,000.