Heitkamp Raised $1.6 Million in First Quarter of 2018

According to a spokesperson, Senator Heidi Heitkamp’s campaign has raised $1.6 million in the first quarter of 2018. It is a slight improvement from the $1.3 million she raised at the end of 2017. This quarter spanned from January 1st to March 31st. Public reports will come out later this month. This is a massive fundraising haul for Heitkamp. Throughout the campaign cycle, she’s led her opponents each quarter.

Last year, Heitkamp set records for fundraising in North Dakota and ended the year with $4,464,593.64 cash-on-hand. During that time, State Senator Tom Campbell and former NDGOP Chair Gary Emineth were her opponents. Ultimately, Rep. Kevin Cramer jumped in the race and will receive his party’s endorsement this weekend in Grand Forks.

Heitkamp’s ability to steadily raise campaign funds will be vital to her odds of maintaining the Senate. With Cramer now her opponent, estimates of $20 million or more being spent by these two campaigns is the word around the state. That doesn’t even count the out-of-state special interest groups who have already begun pouring money into lazy political ads.

Heitkamp’s campaign spokesman Sean Higgins returned my request with the following comment, “From Wahpeton to Williston, Heidi has the strong support of North Dakotans in every corner of our state who are fired up about being part of her campaign. Whether it’s lifting the ban on crude oil exports, protecting health care or cracking down on human trafficking, North Dakotans know Heidi and they know her strong record of putting North Dakota first and bridging partisan divides to get real results.” 

Check back as more information becomes available.