Augusta, Maine — New reporting from Bangor Daily News’ Mike Shepherd exposes No Nonsense PAC, which registered in June as a pro-Bobby Charles group, now spending to prop up former Maine GOP Chairman turned independent gubernatorial candidate Rick Bennett.

According to Shepherd and financial reports, the PAC has spent $70,000 supporting Bennett while spending nothing to boost Charles. Top donors include Thomas Klingenstein, who helped bankroll the Restoration of America PAC that poured $2.4 million into supporting Garrett Mason’s primary campaign. Klingenstein is “also the biggest Republican-side donor in legislative races.”

Other donors include Republicans who have given to Charles in both the primary and general elections, including David DeLorme and Steven Ritzi, the latter of whom was Charles’ high school classmate.

Statement from Maine Democratic Party Spokesperson Lauryn Fanguen:

“This blatant and shady election meddling is an admission from Bobby Charles’ own supporters that his brand is too MAGA and tied to Donald Trump for him to win. Bobby Charles is desperate and his team is willing to do anything to change the spiraling trajectory of his campaign. We call on Rick Bennett to speak out against this dishonest tactic and denounce No Nonsense PAC’s spending on his behalf. ”

Bangor Daily News’ Maine Politics Insider: Money, money, money
By Mike Shepherd

• In the governor’s race, the new No Nonsense PAC began to spend in an apparent effort to boost independent Rick Bennett on behalf of Republican Bobby Charles.
  

• It has disclosed $220,000 in spending against Democrat Hannah Pingree and $70,000 to support Bennett.

• Donors to the effort include Michigan auto magnate Roger Penske and Freeport’s David DeLorme gave $200,000 each. DeLorme and Steven Ritzi, Charles’ high school classmate, who gave $20,000, also helped fund a pro-Charles primary group.

• New York investment manager Thomas Klingenstein kicked in $100,000. He’s also the biggest Republican-side donor in legislative races. His $400,000 is about two-thirds of Renew the American Dream’s money, and that group led by former state Rep. Dale Crafts, R-Lisbon, also has given to House Republicans’ campaign arm.