Zellers brings in $403,000 for gubernatorial bid

Former state House Speaker Kurt Zellers, R-Maple Grove, raised $403,000 in the last six months of 2013 for his campaign to unseat DFL Gov. Mark Dayton.

That puts Zellers toward the front of the pack in terms of fundraising in a crowded field of Republican candidates. Business executive Scott Honour's campaign has brought in $500,000. Hennepin County Commissioner Jeff Johnson has raised $240,000 and state Sen. Dave Thompson, R- Lakeville, has collected $120,000.

Former House MinorityLeader Marty Seifert is the only GOP candidate who has not yet announced his fundraising. Seifert did not announce his campaign until late November of 2013.

A campaign press release noted that "Zellers has far out-raised candidates not dependent on their personal wealth," a dig at Honour, a former investment banker and major political donor.

Dayton's campaign has not yet announced its fundraising though the governor told the Associated Press in December that his total would exceed $1 million for 2013.

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