Brewer cited in Press Herald story on fundraising in Maine’s governor’s race
Mark Brewer spoke with the Portland Press Herald about the current state of fundraising for the candidates of Maine’s upcoming gubernatorial race. According to the first campaign finance reports of the year, some candidates have been able to acquire large sums of money, while others face mounting debt. “Money doesn’t equal votes by any means,” said Brewer, a professor of political science at the University of Maine, “but money makes it easier to get votes.” Currently leading in fundraising for the Democrats is candidate Adam Cote and is followed by Maine Attorney General Janet Mills. For the Republican side, Shawn Moody leads and is followed by former Department of Health and Human Services Commissioner Mary Mayhew. According to Brewer, an early jump in campaign fundraising doesn’t always lead to a primary victory. However, a strong financial report featuring prominent names on the donor list can be “gold” for a campaign. Brewer said that candidates with strong financial reports can use their success to attract more donors. They can also leverage them against their opponents by discouraging donors from contributing to lackluster campaigns. “These things matter. They are insider baseball, for sure, but they matter,” said Brewer.