Dems challenging Gianforte in 2018 report good start in fundraising

Dems challenging Gianforte in 2018 report good start in fundraising

Two Democrats running to challenge Republican U.S. Rep. Greg Gianforte in 2018 have raised more than a half-million dollars in campaign funds between them – and a third Democrat appears poised to enter the contest.

Billings attorney John Heenan, the first Democrat to announce he would challenge Gianforte, reported raising $325,000 in August and September – including a $100,000 loan from his own pocket.

“When you run for office, you don’t know how it’s going to go – it’s like having a party and you don’t know if people are going to show up,” he told MTN News Tuesday. “(But) people are showing up. … There’s just been tremendous enthusiasm.”

And Grant Kier, a former land-trust director from Missoula, said he raised $192,000 in the last three weeks of September, after announcing his candidacy.

“I think people know that I’m in this race because I believe in Montanans’ ability to come together and solve problems, and they’re demonstrating that they believe in me and my message on that front,” he said.

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