By: Julia Musto
https://www.foxnews.com/person/m/julia-musto
Sara Gideon, Maine Republican Sen. Susan Collins' 2020 challenger, conceded the race with nearly $15 million in donations in the bank.
The Democratic Speaker of the Maine House of Representatives lost to Collins by 70,237 votes on Election Day, or 50.99% to 42.41%.
The election a referendum on Collins turned out to be the most expensive political campaign in state history.
According to the Center for Responsive Politics, Collins raised more than $29 million and spent around the same amount, and Gideon raised close to $75 million and spent nearly $60 million.
Gideon's $14.8 million in cash on hand was disclosed Friday in a Federal Election Commission report.
The report shows that from Oct. 15 through Election Day, Gideon took in more than $6 million, Roll Call reported Thursday.
The FEC has stringent regulations regarding campaign finances and how leftover funds can be used.While candidates can put the cash toward campaign bills, expenses and debts or make a charitable donation, personal use is prohibited. Gideon announced Friday she would donate around $350,000 to two Maine nonprofit charities. Of that, $250,000 will go to Full Plates Full Potential and $100,000 to Keep ME Warm.
Full Plates Full Potential focuses on ending childhood hunger working through the pandemic and Keep ME Warm provides heating assistance, according to NBC's News Center Maine.
>>“Full Plates, Full Potential and Keep ME Warm work every day to help Maine families through this difficult time, and I’m proud to support them,” Gideon said in a news release explaining her decision.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/sara-gideon-ended-challenge-against-susan-collins-with-nearly-15m-in-cash-left-over-filing-shows