The Senate DFL caucus and House Republicans raised similar campaign dollars during the first quarter as they each try to defend their majority status in November, according to campaign finance reports released Friday.
The two caucuses and their fundraising totals showed the advantage of incumbency in raising re-election funds.
The House GOP raised $447,000 and has nearly $1 million cash on hand as it tries to defend its majority status that it won in 2014. The Senate DFL raised about $477,000 and has about $1.5 million on hand.
The House DFL, which needs to flip seven seats to reclaim the majority, raised about $225,000 and has about $610,000 on hand. Senate Republicans raised $226,000 and have $581,000 as they try to flip six seats to take the majority.
All 201 House and Senate districts will be on the ballot in November.
Republicans raised big money from wealthy individuals like Mitch and Mark Davis of the family-owned conglomerate of Minnesota companies like Cambria quartz countertops, Davis Family Dairies and Sun Country Airlines. They each gave $25,000 to the House and Senate GOP caucuses. Stanley Hubbard, the Wisconsin media mogul, also gave $25,000 to both House and Senate GOP.
DFL donors included labor unions like SEIU, painters, iron workers, teachers and carpenters, all of which gave at least $10,000 and often more. Alida Messinger, a Rockefeller and ex-wife of Gov. Mark Dayton, gave the Senate DFL $25,000. (She gave $250,000 to the state DFL party.)
Beer wholesalers and a number of lobbying firms gave to both sides. The firm of Lockridge Grindal Nauen supported both sides with donations totaling more than $70,000 to the four caucuses.
