Independent groups and official party committees have spent about $2.9 million on battleground races that could determine who controls the Legislature, and about half of that amount came in the last week alone.
Democratic-aligned groups are leading the way, spending about $1.5 million as of Oct. 16, while Republican-aligned groups have spent $1.3 million.
Spending is mostly targeting the Senate, where Democrats hold a nine-seat majority. Outside groups have spent about $1.8 million across 16 different races in an effort to gain control over the 35-seat body.
Races in the House of Representatives, where Democrats have a 12-seat advantage, have drawn $1.1 million in outside spending.
Outside spending on House and Senate races is lagging behind what was spent two years ago. At this point in 2022, outside groups had spend about $3.6 million on the way to a total of $6.2 million, nearly $1 million of which was aimed at protecting Sen. President Troy Jackson’s District 1 seat.
Here’s a look at which races are attracting the most outside spending this year.
SENATE
District 15, representing part of Kennebec County, including Augusta, Belgrade and China: $267,500
Rep. Raegan LaRochelle, D-Augusta, versus Rep. Dick Bradstreet, R-Vassalboro
District 8, representing the eastern part of Penobscot County, including Orono: $266,000
Sen. Mike Tipping, D-Orono, versus Leo Kenney, R-Orono
District 14, representing part of Kennebec County, including Winthrop, Hallowell and Gardiner: $255,000
Sen. Craig Hickman, D-Winthrop, versus Republican Shannon McDonnell
District 20, representing parts of Androscoggin and Cumberland counties, including Auburn and New Gloucester: $240,000
Democrat Bettyann Sheats, of Auburn, versus Republican Bruce Bickford, of Auburn, versus independent Dustin Ward, of New Gloucester
District 26, representing part of Cumberland County, including Windham, Raymond and part of Westbrook: $170,000
Sen. Timothy Nangle, D-Windham, versus Republican Kenneth Cianchette, of Windham
District 11, part of Waldo County, including Belfast, Winterport and Palmero: $167,000
Sen. Glenn Curry, D-Belfast, versus Republican Robert Meyer, of Searsport
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
District 44: $58,400
Rep. William Pluecker, I-Warren, versus Republican Ray Thombs, of Union
District 105: $58,100
Rep. Anne Graham, D-North Yarmouth, versus Republican Sue Austin, of Gray
District 88 (open seat currently held by Democrats): $57,600
Republican Quentin Chapman, of Auburn, versus Democrat Stefanie Damien, of Auburn
District 86 (open seat currently held by Democrats): $56,900
Democrat Craig Messinger, of Raymond, versus Republican Rolf Olsen, of Raymond
District 75 (open seat currently held by Democrats): $54,400
Democrat Stephen Bunker, of Farmington, versus Randall Gauvin, of Farmington
District 37: $48,700
Rep. Raegan Paul, R-Winterport, versus Democrat Scott Cuddy, of Winterport
District 13: $45,700
Rep. Mark Worth, D-Ellsworth, versus Republican Russell White, of Ellsworth
District 17: $42,400
Rep. Ronald Russell, D-Verona Island, versus Republican Steven Bishop, of Bucksport
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