HELENA — Outside, independent groups have long been expected to pour money into a three-way race for an open seat on the Montana Supreme Court, but that money has yet to materialize as the June 7 primary approaches. Even so, lots of cash is already being raised and spent by the candidates themselves.
District Judge Dirk Sandefur, widely considered as the establishment candidate, has raised a record amount of money for the primary — amassing $248,000 in contributions thus far, according to campaign finance records filed with the Commissioner of Political Practices. He’s spent $116,000 of that money, leaving him with more than $131,000 in his war chest should he advance to November’s general election.
His two opponents, University of Montana law professor Kristen Juras and Great Falls attorney Eric Mills, haven’t kept up.
Juras has raised $94,000 thus far and has nearly $28,000 left in the bank.
Mills gave his campaign $300, the only amount he’s raised since declaring his longshot candidacy three months ago.
The top two vote-getters in next Tuesday’s balloting advance to the general election.
This year, about two dozen states are holding elections for Supreme Court vacancies. In all, voters in 39 states have a say over who administers the rule of law, with 22 states, including Montana, holding competitive elections for Supreme Court justices.
Outside groups have long influenced judicial races across the country, including millions of dollars already spent this year on races in Arkansas, North Carolina and Wisconsin.
A vacancy on the Wisconsin Supreme Court generated more than $4.3 million in spending this year, according to Justice at Stake, a Washington-based group advocating for fair and impartial courts. In Arkansas, groups spent nearly $1.3 million on television ads.
The Republican State Leadership Committee, in particular, has spent millions in recent years to influence judicial contests. In 2014, the committee spent $3.4 million across five states, including Montana.
Two years ago, outside groups spent nearly $1.4 million to influence the Montana race between Justice Mike Wheat and challenger Lawrence VanDyke.
In 2012, the Montana Growth Network, a politically conservative nonprofit, spent thousands of dollars in support of the successful Supreme Court campaign of Laurie McKinnon.
The Republican State Leadership Committee has already registered two political committees with the Commissioner of Political Practices, but neither has yet to raise substantial amounts of money and neither has spent any money on candidates.
Two other seats on the Montana Supreme Court are also up for election, but Chief Justice Mike McGrath and Justice Jim Shea are unopposed.