Spending by campaigns and political committees on Maine’s pivotal U.S. Senate race has reached more than $37 million, including $1.4 million just this week.
The analysis by AdImpact includes super PACS, dark money groups and the candidate campaigns. With eight months left until the November election, the spending is on pace to beat the state record set six years ago in the senate race of more than $200 million.
This time the spending has been accelerated by a hotly contested Democratic primary between leading contenders Gov. Janet Mills and Graham Platner. Both are vying for the chance to take on Republican Sen. Susan Collins and this week released several TV ads.
Collins’ spending has been modest so far, but she’s already getting a boost from the Pine Tree Results super PAC financed by well-heeled donors, as well as the dark money group One Nation.
One Nation is the biggest spender so far, booking more than $15 million in so-called issue ads that talk up Collins’ ability to secure federal funding. The group announced this week that it’s pumping up its spending by an additional $10 million.
