<\/p>\n
Advancing Connecticut, a new super PAC funded exclusively by the Republican Governors Association, reported Friday that it spent $920,000 on advertising attacking Gov. Ned Lamont on broadcast and cable television.<\/p>\n
His opposing operation, the Democratic Governors Association-funded Stronger CT committee, has spent $1.4 million since mid-July opposing the Republican candidate, Bob Stefanowski.<\/p>\n
The latest round of reported spending brings total spending in the Connecticut governor’s race to at least $14.6 million. So far, it’s a fairly even fight, with $7.4 million spent by Republicans and $7.2 million by Democrats.<\/p>\n
Needless to say, more will come with three more months of campaigning. Neither candidate faces a challenge in Tuesday’s primary.<\/p>\n
The Democratic governor and his Republican challenger opted out of the state’s Voluntary Citizens Election Program, as they did when they first faced off in 2018. <\/p>\n
This year, participation in the Citizens’ Choice Program would have limited their total spending to about $8 million each for the entire campaign, most of it in public grants of $7.7 million.<\/p>\n
As of July 1, Stefanowski had spent $4.2 million of the $10 million he personally deposited into his campaign account. It has also raised $1.1 million from donors. Lamont’s self-funded campaign spent $6.3 million.<\/p>\n
Campaigns for state office in Connecticut are limited to maximum contributions of $3,500. The limit for participants in the public funding program is $290.<\/p>\n
But there is no limit on contributions to super PACs, and top donors this year contributed $750,000.<\/p>\n
Aside from the RGA affiliate, there are two other super PACs opposing Lamont.<\/p>\n
CT Truth PAC has spent nearly $1.6 million. Parents Against Stupid Stuff has spent $200,000 on a website, digital ads and direct mail accusing Lamont of not speaking out against what it considers inappropriate sex education lessons.<\/p>\n
The first is funded primarily by three businessmen: David Kelsey of Old Lyme and Thomas E. McInerney of Westport each gave $750,000; Raymond Debbane of Greenwich, an investor and chairman of Weight Watchers, gave $100,000.<\/p>\n
The Democratic and Republican Governors’ Associations, which raise money from business interests and private donors, are the sole donors to Stronger CT and Advancing Connecticut.<\/p>\n
With money flowing through the groups’ national accounts, money spent by the RGA and DGA in Connecticut cannot be easily assigned to specific donors.<\/p>\n