In the race to secure campaign cash, U.S. Rep. Bruce Poliquin has raised 22 percent more than he had at the same time in 2016, the last time he faced voters.

The 2nd District Maine Republican collected more than $430,000 during the first quarter of the year, and has more than $2.2 million in his campaign fund. 

Poliquin said many news reports show that House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., hopes the Democrats snatch his seat to help her party gain control for the first time since 2010, an outcome he obviously hopes to avoid.

In a prepared statement, Poliquin said he is “working to block out all of that noise and stay focused on one goal and objective: strongly representing the people of Maine.”

The only Democrat to offer any information about his fundraising is Lewiston state Rep. Jared Golden. His campaign has raised more than $600,000 so far.

One, environmentalist Lucas St. Clair, said his numbers are not quite tallied. He said, however, that “this election won’t be decided by money alone.”

“Maine has proven time and again that elections aren’t won with money alone,” Golden said.

Jonathan Fulford, another Democratic contender who has not released his finances, said Poliquin’s campaigns “are about money and endless TV ads,” funded mostly by political action committees.

Two years ago, Democrat Emily Cain had raised $1.2 million by this time in her unsuccessful campaign to knock out Poliquin. She had $785,000 on hand after raising $386,000 during the first quarter of 2016.

An independent in this year’s race, lawyer Tiffany Bond, is calling on supporters to give their money to Maine businesses and charities instead of donating to her campaign. She hopes that a social media-driven, grass-roots effort can propel her to victory.

By the end of 2017, Golden had raised $346,000 to lead the challengers in rounding up campaign cash. In second place: St. Clair, who had hauled in $207,000.

Campaign finance reports from all candidates are due by April 15.

scollins@sunjournal.com

U.S. Rep. Bruce Poliquin, R-Maine, is well ahead of his opponents when it comes to raising campaign funds for the upcoming election.