Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker’s super PAC and another Walker-aligned group announced Tuesday they had raked in $26.2 million, placing the newly-minted White House candidate in the middle of a pack of well-moneyed contenders.
Unintimidated PAC — a nod to Walker’s branding that he is “unintimidated” by unions and Democrats — collected $20 million from 300 donors and Our American Revival, a related “527” fundraising arm, collected $6.2 million.
The combined haul puts Walker in fourth place, according to the most recent figures. Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush dominated the field with more than $100 million from his super PAC, followed by Sen. Ted Cruz, who pulled in $37 million from his super PAC and outside group and Florida Sen. Marco Rubio who pulled in more than $32 million combined from his super PAC and outside group.
A fundraising tally for the Walker campaign itself was not available because Walker entered the race two weeks after the close of the most recent fundraising period. A separate, state-level group, Friends of Scott Walker, announced it raised $5.9 million.
“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,” Unintimidated PAC Director Keith Gilkes, a veteran Walker staffer, said in a statement.
Walker formally launched his White House bid last week and then headed out on an early-state swing, with stops in Nevada, South Carolina, New Hampshire and Iowa.
He has continued leading the polls of likely Republican caucus attendees in Iowa, but the Walker campaign is leaning heavy on an Iowa win to carry it through the crowded Republican field next year.