Emmer and Horner get public checks for gov campaigns

The Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board issued public subsidy payments this week to candidates running for state office, dishing out nearly $4 million to 365 candidates, including nearly $1 million to the governor’s race.

That figure was split between GOP-endorsed candidate Tom Emmer and Independence Party candidate Tom Horner. DFLer Mark Dayton didn’t abide by the campaign board’s spending limit of about $2.5 million, so he did not qualify for the funds. Dayton has spent more than $3 million dollars on his gubernatorial bid so far.

For Horner, getting the public subsidy is a major windfall. At the end of the last campaign finance reporting period, team Horner reported raising a mere $190,000 in 2010, with only about $27,500 in the bank. The campaign finance board cut Horner a check for $346,368 this week.

Emmer took in even more, getting $511,834 in public subsidy to add to about $300,000 he had on hand at the end of the last reporting period.

The board issues public subsidy checks to candidates who are opposed at either the primary or general election,  raise a certain amount of money (depending on the office they seek) and agree to campaign spending limits.