HELENA – Democrat Whitney Williams and Republican Greg Gianforte lead the fundraising in Montana’s gubernatorial race, according to campaign finance reports that were due on Monday.
Williams, the daughter of former U.S. Rep. Pat Williams and state Sen. Carol Williams, reported raising more than $439,000 during her first quarter as a candidate. Williams, who worked in the Clinton White House and is a consultant for philanthropic organizations, has $250,000 in cash on hand.
Gianforte, the state’s lone U.S. House member, raised over $345,000 in the final three months of 2019, bringing his fundraising total to about $1.3 million. He has more than $780,000 available heading into the June 2 primary. Gianforte, who founded the software company RightNow Technologies and sold it to Oracle in 2011, has loaned his campaign $50,000, Lee Newspapers of Montana reported.
Lt. Gov. Mike Cooney, a Democrat, reported raising about $200,000 in the past three months, bringing his fundraising total to more than $450,000. He has $180,000 in the bank to start 2020. House Minority Leader Casey Schreiner of Great Falls raised $15,200 in the last three months for a total of $85,000. He has just over $20,000 available.
On the Republican side, Attorney General Tim Fox raised nearly $106,000 in the final three months of 2019 for a total of more than $450,000. He has just under $200,000 available. State Sen. Al Olszewski of Kalispell and former state Rep. Reilly Neill of Livingston had not filed their fourth quarter campaign finance reports by Tuesday morning.
Term limits prevent Gov. Steve Bullock from seeking re-election.