DFL collects more campaign subsidies than GOP, IP

The candidates for governor and other state offices are getting a big cash infusion for their campaigns, courtesy of Minnesota taxpayers.

DFL Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton received a total of $534,071 from the state's campaign subsidy program while his Republican opponent Jeff Johnson got $389,408.  In exchange for accepting the subsidies the two gubernatorial candidates will be held to a base spending limit of about $3.6 million.

That pales in comparison to other gubernatorial races across the country. In Florida, Republican Gov. Rick Scott has already spent more than $100 million on his campaign.

Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board Executive Director Gary Goldsmith said the campaign subsidy program was designed to keep Minnesota’s elections more affordable.

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"Anybody that wants public subsidy first has to sign an agreement, by signing that agreement they agree to limit their total spending on their campaign," Goldsmith said. "That’s one of the things that’s helped keep Minnesota campaigns among the lowest in the country."

The Independence Party candidate for governor Hannah Nicollet failed to qualify for a subsidy because she didn't meet a threshold of fundraising from other sources.

Overall Democratic candidates received a larger share of state public election subsidies than Republican or Independence Party candidates.

The  campaign board announced Tuesday that 238 candidates had received $2,376,081 in public campaign subsidies. Democrats received almost $1.35 million; Republicans received $925,911; and Independence Party candidates received $100,505.

The program is funded partly by a voluntary check-off on state income and property tax forms. Goldsmith said one reason why Democrats earned more in the program is because more Democratic voters check off the box on their taxes.

When people check off the contribution boxes on their taxes, a portion of that money also stays in their district, which is why DFL Rep. Frank Hornstein, who represents strongly-DFL southwest Minneapolis, received a total of $8,590 while his Republican opponent Frank Taylor received only $3,554.

More Republicans than Democrats chose not to file or didn’t qualify for the subsidy, which means they don’t need to abide by the spending limits. House Speaker Paul Thissen received $8,484, while his Republican opponent Bruce Lundeen didn’t file for or didn't qualify for the program.

Goldsmith said Democrats tend to receive more funding through this subsidy program, while Republicans tend to be more successful in eliciting donations eligible for the state’s contribution refund program, which refunds up to $50 per person for a political donation to a qualified candidate.

The amount of money distributed in the subsidy program has been going down for years.

“That’s consistent with what happened this year,” Goldsmith said. “That’s because the amount of money that people check off on the tax returns has steadily been going down.”

Although more than 88% of eligible candidates signed onto the program, Goldsmith said that number has dropped from historical high levels where more than 95% of candidates signed on.

See the full results below.

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