Following the money: Hansen raises $23K by primary, Jergeson $15K

In a closely watched Senate race, the money had been pouring in by the time the last official report was filed a few weeks after the primary election.

By her candidate campaign report in the race for Senate District 14 filed June 5, Rep. Kris Hansen, R-Havre, had reported receiving $23,741.

By the time the Secretary of State received his report June 23, Sen. Greg Jergeson, D-Havre, had reported receiving $15,469.

Hansen and Jergeson reported still having in the bank $13,569.99 and $15,469, respectively.

Hansen had reported receiving contributions of $50 to $170 from 14 political action committees including Montana Gas & Oil PAC, Excellence in Voting PAC of Kalispell, Archer Coal PAC, MT Bankers PAC and Montana Independent Bankers PAC, Montana Coal Council PAC, MT Society of Certified Accountants PAC, Montana-Dakota Utilities Resources Group PAC and Insurance and Financial Advisors PAC.

Jergeson reported two PAC contributions, $100 from Montana-Dakota Utilities Resources Group PAC and $170 from the Regional Council of Carpenters PAC out of Kent, Washington.

Both also reported contributions from party committees, with Hansen reporting a $1,200 contribution from the Blaine County Republican Central Committee — Blaine County is not in Senate District 14 — and Jergeson reporting $50 from the Anaconda Deer Lodge Democrats.

The majority of Jergeson's contributions were from the Hi-Line or Golden Triangle. That included several current or former elected officials and many people active in the Hill County Democratic Party.

Hansen’s contributions also mostly are from Montana, although she has several out-of-state contributions including from her home state of Illinois and from people in the military. While her contributions favor the local area, she has many contributions from out of the area including from Republican former or elected officials, or their family members, from Libby to Bainville. Hansen also received multiple contributions from Greg and Susan Gianforte, activists and founders of RightNow Technologies in Bozeman.

Online: Montana Commissioner of Political Practices candidate information: http://campaignreport.mt.gov/