Doug Belden, Pioneer Press, St. Paul, Minn. –
Opponents to a proposed marriage amendment to Minnesota’s constitution have raised more than three times the amount of its supporters.
Minnesotans United for All Families, the main group lining up opposition to the amendment, raised $3.1 million in the first half of 2012, according to a report released Tuesday, June 19.
That brings the total raised since the start of the campaign in 2011 to $4.6 million. The group said it has taken in contributions from more than 19,000 individual donors over the entire campaign and that 85 percent of the money raised has come from within the state.
Total expenditures so far are roughly $3 million.
“What this report shows is that the conversation we are having across this state is working, and that more and more, Minnesotans are coming to the conclusion that limiting the freedom to marry for same-sex couples is not how we do things in Minnesota,” Richard Carlbom, campaign manager for Minnesotans United, said in a statement.
Meanwhile, the main group that’s pushing for the amendment has raised $1.4 million. Minnesota for Marriage announced its fundraising totals Tuesday, the total including 2011 figures as well as the first half of 2012, a spokesman said.
Minnesotans will be asked in November to vote on whether to amend the state’s constitution to define marriage as the union of a man and a woman. Same-sex marriage is already prohibited under state law.
John Helmberger, chairman of Minnesota for Marriage, said his group expected to be outraised by their opponents but takes comfort in knowing that a similar fundraising dynamic in other states didn’t prevent gay marriage bans from succeeding there.
Similar bans have passed in more than 30 states, and none so far has failed.
“We don’t have to match our opponents’ spending; we only need to mobilize people who believe marriage should be protected,” Helmberger said.
A breakdown of the spending and donations to Minnesota for Marriage wasn’t provided
While Minnesotans United released its full financial filing with the state, Minnesota for Marriage only announced its fundraising total — not a breakdown of spending and donors.
The filing reports should be available on the Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board website (cfboard.state.mn.us) Wednesday morning, officials have said.
In the Minnesotans United filing, the biggest single expenditure was a $1 million purchase to reserve TV airtime in the three weeks leading up to Election Day. The group’s spokeswoman, Kate Brickman, said the group expects to be on the air well before that, but wanted to ensure a TV presence in the final days of the campaign.
A number of notable Minnesota residents donated to defeat the marriage amendment, including Minnesota Twins owner James Pohlad and his brothers Robert and William, who gave a combined $305,000; Minneapolis restaurateurs Andrew and Eric Dayton, the sons of Gov. Mark Dayton, who together gave more than $50,000.
There were also a number of corporate executives who gave as well, including Gregory Page, president and CEO at Cargill, who gave $1,000; Douglas Baker, CEO of Ecolab, $500; and Kendall Powell, CEO at General Mills, $10,000.
Tuesday night was also the first filing deadline for the other November ballot measure, which asks Minnesotans to decide whether a photo ID should be required in order to vote in the state.
The lead group advocating that amendment, Protect My Vote Minnesota, reported raising just more than $75,000 so far in 2012 and spent about $56,000.
Numbers from the chief group opposing the amendment, America Votes for Minnesota’s Future, were not immediately available.
Also Tuesday, Minnesotans United launched a “Let Your Friends kNOw” campaign designed to encourage gay and lesbian Minnesotans and their supporters to conduct personal conversations to rally opposition to the amendment.
This story contains information from the Associated Press. Doug Belden can be reached at 651-228-5136. Follow him at twitter.com/dbeldenpipress.
OPPONENT CONTRIBUTORS: Minnesotans United for All Families, the group leading opposition to the state’s proposed marriage amendment, from Jan. 1 to June 12, 2012, has attracted a number of large donations, including:
Organizations
— Project 515 Education Campaign, Minneapolis, $287,050
— Alliance for a Better Minnesota, St. Paul, $182,000
— HRC Minnesota Family Freedom PAC, Washington. D.C, $115,466
— Women’s Foundation of Minnesota, Minneapolis, $25,000
— MAPE Educational and Political Fund, Shoreview, $20,000
— Rockefeller Family Fund Inc., New York, NY, $15,000
Individuals
— William M. Pohlad, Minneapolis, River Road Entertainment, $110,000
— Robert C. Pohlad, Minneapolis, Pohlad Companies, $100,000
— James O. Pohlad, Minneapolis, Pohlad Companies, $95,000
— Noa Staryk, Minneapolis, CNote Management, $55,000
— Alan Braun, Golden Valley, retired, $30,000
— Andrew Dayton, New York, restaurant owner, $25,011
— Eric Dayton, New York, restaurant owner, $25,011
