Money Is Key In Gubernatorial Race

Money dominates in Montana’s gubernatorial race in more ways than one, as Gov. Steve Bullock and Republican Greg Gianforte filed their latest campaign finance reports while both continued to make high-paying jobs a central issue of the campaign.  Gianforte loaned his gubernatorial campaign $150,000, while racking up more than $100,000 in donations in recent weeks, according to campaign finance reports filed Monday with the Commissioner of Political Practices.  The loans add to the $272,000 Gianforte has given his campaign in his attempt to unseat Gov. Steve Bullock.
It’s the first filing deadline since last week’s ruling by a federal judge invalidating campaign contribution limits set by voters in 1994.  It opens the way for unlimited spending by political parties and substantially higher limits for political action committees.  The governor has raised more than $1.8 million since launching his re-election bid, while Gianforte has raised $1.1 million. Those numbers could increase substantially.