Minnesota's Post-Election Money Blitz, At A Glance

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Political action committees, lobbyists and everyday Minnesota residents spent hundreds of thousands of dollars after Election Day on campaigns.

Those checks gravitated toward groups in power — Republicans who retook control of the House and Senate Democrats who retain the majority until at least 2016.

But who is cutting checks after campaigns have crossed the finish line? Here's a rundown of some of the largest donors:

— A Minnesota oncologist who has lobbied for a moratorium blocking new radiation facilities was the biggest spender. Robert Haselow and his wife, Justine, together contributed $36,000 to campaigns after Nov. 4 — half to Democratic groups, half to Republican organizations and candidates. The pair spent more than $330,000 throughout the 2014 campaign.

— The Minnesota Nurses Association gave Senate Democrats' campaign arm $25,000 — the largest single donation after Nov. 4.

— Senate Democrats benefited from big donations from labor allies, such as $12,000 from the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades and $10,000 from Minnesota's American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees.

— More than half of the House Republican Campaign Committee's donations came from its Dec. 2 holiday fundraiser, where a ticket cost from $300 for entry to $5,000 for "gold level" sponsors, according to an invitation. That day netted the group $95,000.

— New House Speaker Kurt Daudt got the most among lawmakers in post-election contributions: an extra $4,750.

— Pawn America CEO Brad Rixmann is one of many donors who split checks down the party aisle. He gave $5,000 to Senate Democrats and $2,500 to House Republicans.

— The Minnesota Chamber of Commerce's political fund went all-in on Republicans after the election: $5,000 for the House caucus and $1,000 to the Senate GOP.

(© Copyright 2015 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

Read more
f

We and our partners use cookies to understand how you use our site, improve your experience and serve you personalized content and advertising. Read about how we use cookies in our cookie policy and how you can control them by clicking Manage Settings. By continuing to use this site, you accept these cookies.