Democrats outraised Republicans on a number of fronts in 2021.
By Jessie Van Berkel and Hunter Woodall, Star Tribune — Feb 2, 2022
Candidates’ fundraising in 2021
Gov. Tim Walz had a massive early cash advantage in the governor’s race among candidates who filed fundraising reports in 2021.
Candidates’ fundraising in 2021, detailed in campaign finance reports released Tuesday, provide a springboard to get their names and messages in front of voters as election season ramps up. All eight Minnesota U.S. House seats are on the ballot this year, along with the 201 legislative seats and the state’s constitutional officers, such as attorney general and secretary of state.
The potential rematch to represent the Second District is on track to be Minnesota’s biggest-ticket congressional battleground in the November midterms when Democrats are at risk of losing the U.S. House. In the latest round of finance reports, DFL U.S. Rep. Angie Craig widened her financial advantage over Republican Tyler Kistner. Kistner lost a close race to Craig in 2020.
Craig’s campaign reported raising about $876,000 from the start of October to the end of December, leaving the incumbent’s campaign with more than $2.9 million to defend her swing district seat.
“I am incredibly grateful for the outpouring of support that we’ve received over the past year, which will allow us to continue doing the work that matters to voters of Minnesota’s Second Congressional District,” Craig said in a statement in January.
Kistner, the only GOP challenger to emerge against Craig so far, reported raising $310,000 in the past financial quarter. He trails Craig in cash on hand, with his campaign disclosing it had more than $170,000 at the end of the year.
“Our investments will pay off in 2022, as we will continue to raise the resources necessary to defeat Angie Craig and her Washington allies,” Kistner campaign spokesman Tyler Dunn said in an email.