Republican Kelly Ayotte and Democrat Maggie Hassan both raised more than $2.25 million for their U.S. Senate campaigns in the first months of 2016.
The matchup is expected to be one of the most competitive, and expensive, in the country, and could help determine which party controls the U.S. Senate.
Ayotte’s campaign now has roughly $6.9 million cash on hand, while Hassan’s campaign reports $2.9 million.
The women were unable to agree on a pledge meant to keep outside money from the race, and that cash has been pouring in. Third-party groups have spent more than $3.3 million on the contest, according to the Center for Responsive Politics.
Ayotte, first elected to the U.S. Senate in 2010, is running for re-election. Hassan is New Hampshire’s second-term governor.
Allie Morris