RGA puts $1 million into Minnesota elections in final week

The Republican Governor’s Associaton (RGA) plans to dump $1 million into the coffers of Minnesota’s Future, a group that has released attack ads against DFLer Mark Dayton. The group has gained notoriety for an ad that falsely claimed that Dayton wants to institute an email tax and for questionable financial arrangements that are currently being investigated by the Minnesota Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board.

“We believe Tom Emmer is going to win but we’re going to close the election right and get that message to the voters,” Minnesota’s Future chair Chris Tiedeman told Polinaut.

Dayton’s campaign slammed the expenditure in an email to supporters. “We need to stop this blatant attempt in the last days of the campaign to buy the election by distorting Mark’s record and distracting voters. That’s one million dollars of television ads in one week — a relentless barrage never before seen in this state!”

Minnesota’s Future, its LLC and RGA are under investigation by the Minnesota campaign finance board following a complaint filed by Common Cause Minnesota. That investigation is expected to be complete by the end of next week.

The Democratic Governor’s Association has also poured big money into the race through WIN Minnesota for a total of $1.5 million. The RGA’s total is $1.8 million.