PROVIDENCE – The Democratic Governors Association has donated $1 million to the Alliance for a Better Rhode Island, a Independent Expenditure Political Action Committee in support of Gov. Gina M. Raimondo, according to a Tuesday filing with the R.I. Board of Elections.
The PAC, which is based in Warwick, is reported to have spent $816,300 on television ads in 2014, on ads targeting Cranston Mayor Alan W. Fung, the Republican candidate for governor then, according to The Center for Public Integrity, a national nonprofit that tracks election spending.
“Under Governor Raimondo’s leadership, Rhode Island is moving forward in building an economy that works for the state’s families,” stated DGA Executive Director Elisabeth Pearson. “The DGA is proud to make this investment to help keep the Ocean State moving forward.”
The amount of money that a PAC is eligible to receive to support or defeat a candidate is less restricted than a candidate’s campaign finances, which is limited to receiving $1,000 annually per donor.
By the end of March, Raimondo had raised $4.3 million for her re-election campaign, about 15 times that of her closest competitor.
This year, Fung trails in the financial arena, having raised $188,807 from contributors in the quarter ended March 31, and another $2,750 from political action committees.
Through the first quarter, the other two major Republican candidates for governor, R.I. Rep. Patricia L. Morgan and Giovanni Feroce, have raised $76,111 and $500, respectively. Raimondo’s Democratic challenger, Matt Brown, had raised $57,020 through the same period.
Chris Bergenheim is the PBN web editor.
