Ag maura healey rakes in the money
Lt. Gov. Polito again out-paces Gov. Baker
State Attorney General Maura Healey is raking in campaign cash even as she contends her recent spate of public appearances isn’t a precursor to a gubernatorial bid.
Healey raised $102,762 in March, notching her secondhighest monthly sum since hauling in $160,326 in October 2018 just before her re-election to the state’s top law enforcement job.
Healey’s only brought in 100large one other time since October 2018, when she posted $168,921 in December 2020, according to state Office of Campaign and Political Finance reports.
Part of the sizable March sum is likely attributed to the “Annual Women for Maura Event” held on March 30, which suggested contributions from $125 to $1,000, according to an email invitation obtained by the Herald for the event co-hosted by Barbara Lee and the women of the Massachusetts congressional delegation.
But Healey’s stepped-up appearances as of late probably haven’t hurt her campaign coffers either, which have now swelled to just over $3 million.
“I look at it as really just an opportunity, certainly, to see what more our office can be doing, and also just as a reminder personally about why I do this work,” Healey said after visiting a food pantry in Brockton last month.
Healey’s vaccination-site visits, business tours and increasing criticisms of the Baker administration’s coronavirus vaccination efforts and pandemic response have been generating plenty of buzz in the media and online.
Her recent press conference with U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren and U.S. Rep. Ayanna Pressley to push President Biden to cancel up to $50,000 in federal student loan debt also attracted widespread coverage.
Former state Sen. Ben Downing, a Democrat who launched his gubernatorial campaign in February, raised $227,712 in the eight weeks since he entered the race on Feb. 8, according to his team, though his March monthly report had not yet posted to the state.
A fundraising report was not yet available for Harvard University political science professor Danielle Allen, who’s exploring a bid. Quincy Democrat Scott Khourie continued to show zilch in fundraising, besides $20 he loaned himself. New filer Shrewsbury Democrat Orlando Silva showed one cent on his March report.
March reports must be filed by today.
On the Republican side, Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito again outraised Gov. Charlie Baker even as the state’s top executive seemed to hint earlier this month he may seek a third term.
Polito hauled in $64,577 in March, and has $2.043 million banked.
Baker lagged behind with $25,457 raised and $561,253 in cash on hand.
Lowell Republican Darius Mitchell, who filed paperwork with the state as a candidate for governor, had no fundraising reports on file.
Rayla Campbell, a GOP candidate for lieutenant governor who ran unsuccessfully for Congress last year, posted $2,975 in receipts for March.
Ronald Beaty, another lieutenant governor candidate, has $46.69 in the bank.