GOP Governor Charlie Baker Builds Massive Fundraising Advantage Over Dem Opponents

With less than ten months until Election Day, GOP Governor Charlie Baker is maintaining an overwhelming fundraising advantage over his Democrat opponents. Mass Live reports that Governor Baker had $7.25 million in his campaign account at the end of 2017 while his closest Democrat opponent had less than $90,000. In fact, over any given two-week period, Governor Baker has been raising more money than any one of his opponents has in their entire bank account. As Massachusetts Democrat gubernatorial candidates continue to struggle with low name recognition and anemic fundraising, Governor Baker’s sky-high approval rating and massive money advantage have him firmly on the right track for reelection this November.

Mass Live reports:

“Gov. Charlie Baker has a massive cash advantage over his potential opponents as the election year gets underway.

According to campaign finance data, Baker, a Republican, had $7.25 million in his campaign account at the end of 2017. Since he took office in 2015, Baker has raised a total of $9.5 million.

Among the three Democrats running for their party’s gubernatorial nomination, former health insurance CEO and state budget chief Jay Gonzalez had $87,500 in the bank at the end of the year. Former Newton Mayor Setti Warren had $56,600. Environmentalist and entrepreneur Bob Massie had $18,400.

In other words, the amount Baker raises in any given two-week period is generally more than his opponents have in their entire bank accounts.

Warren, since he dedicated his state campaign account to his gubernatorial campaign in March 2017, has raised a total of $432,100. Gonzalez, since opening his campaign account in January 2017, has raised $483,000. Massie has raised $221,600 since opening his campaign account in April 2017.

Those figures include $46,360 that Massie gave his own campaign and $2,000 that Gonzalez gave his campaign.

The funding disparity likely reflects the fact that Baker is a popular incumbent who does not have to fend off a significant challenge from within his own party. Many Democratic donors, meanwhile, may not choose a candidate until later in the election season. Any incumbent governor is more easily able than a challenger to raise money from political allies and appointees and people with business before state government. Polls show the Democrats running for governor have also struggled with name recognition.”