Scott Walker’s allies raise $26 million

Gov. Scott Walker’s allies have raised more than $26 million for his presidential campaign, putting him in the mix with other contenders despite his late entry into the race. 

The lion’s share of the figure, more than $20 million from almost 300 donors, comes from Unintimidated PAC, a super-PAC started by Walker’s former campaign staff. That group started in April, so the haul comes in the less than three months before the Federal Election Commission’s (FEC) second fundraising quarter closed.

{mosads}”Governor Walker’s record of fighting for and winning conservative reforms is translating into tremendous grassroots and financial support from across the country,” Keith Gilkes, the super-PAC’s director and a former top aide to Walker, said in a statement on Tuesday. 

“Even before Governor Walker officially became a candidate, enthusiasm for his bold record and for winning big fights was palpable and empowered us to raise a significant sum that is securely within the top-tier of independent organizations this election cycle.”

The remaining $6.2 million comes from a tax-exempt group, Our American Revival. Since the group started in January, its figures count for the first quarter of 2015.

Walker, the Republican governor of Wisconsin, didn’t announce his presidential bid until after the FEC books closed on the second quarter, so he didn’t have any official campaign donations to report. That means he’ll file his first round of donation disclosures in October.

Outside groups, meanwhile, can raise unlimited sums as long as there is no coordination with campaigns on spending. Most outside groups are started by former confidants who keep the candidate’s best interests in mind. 

The outside-spending totals put Walker in solid position in the arms race for outside dollars.

Former Gov. Jeb Bush (R-Fla.), seen by many Republicans as the other major front-runner, trounced the field when his allied super-PAC announced $103 million in donations earlier this month. Outside groups supporting Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) raised the second most, with $37 million, with groups loyal to Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) following at $32 million.

The latest figures for the Walker’s allies put him in fourth place for outside fundraising, ahead of the remaining candidates in the vast Republican field.