Minnesota special elections attract $350,000

02/21/2006

ST. CLOUD, Minn. (AP) — Campaign finance disclosure reports show a pair of special elections in central Minnesota attracted more than $350,000 from the two main political parties.

Rep. Larry Haws’ successful race in House District 15B received about $113,000 from the Minnesota DFL and its related legislative caucuses. The group also spent about $100,000 on Sen. Tarryl Clark’s successful Senate District 15 campaign.

On the other side, the state Republican Party and its legislative caucuses put up about $80,000 for the unsuccessful Senate campaign of Dan “Ox” Ochsner and about $60,000 on the House 15B campaign of Sue Ek.

The parties were primarily responsible for the volume of political advertising and mailing before the Dec. 27 election. Party spending dwarfed the money raised and spent by the candidates themselves.