Secretary of the state campaigns reveal funding

In the crowded field for the race to be Connecticut’s top election official, campaign finance reports filed by the candidates this week are an indication of who is garnering support among voters.

Secretary of the State Denise Merrill, a Democrat, announced last June that she will not seek a fourth term in office creating an open seat that has drawn strong interest from both Democrats and Republicans.

On the Democratic side, state Sen. Matt Lesser, DMiddletown, leads in fundraising and was the first member of his party to reach the $86,000 threshold to qualify for public financing.

Statewide candidates must raise $86,000 in qualifying donations to become eligible for a campaign grant of $484,125 for the primary, which takes place in August, and an additional $968,250 for the general election in November.

Fundraising so far by candidates could signal to party delegates how viable their campaigns are ahead of the Democrat and Republican nominating conventions next month.

Lesser, who has been raising money as an exploratory candidate, reported $87,848 in campaign contributions, according to his latest filing. He’s spent $10,413 and had $77,434 on hand, as of the April 10 filing.

Lesser said in a phone interview Tuesday that he plans to decide soon whether to officially enter the race and will decide before the Democratic convention on May 6-7.

Rep. Stephanie Thomas, D- Norwalk, who announced her candidacy in December and was the first declared Democratic candidate in the race, has raised $62,798 in contributions, as of April 10. Her campaign reported spending $9,113 and having $53,684 on hand.

New Haven Health Director Maritza Bond, who started raising money as an exploratory candidate before making her run official at the end of March, has raised about $60,000 so far.

Her April 10 campaign filings show she raised $45,705 during her exploratory run and $11,635 since declaring her candidacy for a combined total of $57,340.

Bond’s campaign spent $18,727 during her exploratory run and had a balance on hand of $26,978. Her campaign has yet to spend any of the money raised since Bond officially entered the race, according to her campaign finance reports.

Candidates can carry over contributions from exploratory committees to candidate committees and use that money to qualify for public financing with one major exception. Exploratory committees can receive up to $375 contributions from individuals, but contributions above $290 don’t count toward the election grants, according to the Connecticut State Elections Enforcement Commission.

Rep. Hilda Santiago, DMeriden, who announced her run in December, reported $48,141 in campaign contributions. Her campaign has spent $17,102 and has $31,039 on hand, as of the April 10 filing.

Santiago also first ran an exploratory campaign before officially getting into the race. Her exploratory committee raised $27,215 in contributions and carried that amount over to her candidate committee.

Among the Republican candidates, Brock Weber of New Britain, and Dominic Rapini of Branford, are neck and neck in fundraising, with both reporting contributions over $82,000. Weber and Rapini announced their candidacies last fall.

Weber, executive aide to New Britain Mayor Erin Stewart, reported $82,545 in contributions and spending $46,163 for a balance of $36,382, according to his campaign’s latest filing.

Rapini, who sought the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate in 2018, received $82,513 and spent $52,849 for a balance on hand of $29,664.

State Rep. Terrie Wood, R-Darien, became the third Republican to enter the race. Her April 10 campaign filing shows she’s received $55,765 in contributions. Her campaign has spent $6,507 for a balance on hand of $49,257.

Hearst Connecticut Media file photo Campaign fundraising figures for the Secretary of the State were released Tuesday for candidates running for the position in the November election.