WASHINGTON D.C., DC — Maine's U.S. Senate race has been the highest-funded campaign in state history.
The Sara Gideon and Susan Collins campaigns are expected to raise more than $100 million dollars combined before Election Day.
The latest reports show incumbent Senator Susan Collins has raised $26,511,555, and her Democratic challenger Sara Gideon has raised $68,577,474. Independent candidate Max Linn has raised $465,202, and the other Independent candidate Lisa Savage has raised $186,503.
Colby College professor and campaign finance expert Anthony Corrado said, "To say the money raised in the 2020 election is unprecedented is an understatement."
"It's more than all Senate and House general election candidates in Maine have raised in total since 2000. So year we're spending more money than we have in the last two decades on just one race."
So what happens after November 3 to all the campaign funds that aren't spent?
Corrado says there are four ways the money is allowed to be used.
"One option is they can keep the money and use it in the next election campaign or a future election campaign," Corrado said.
"A second option is that if they're not planning to run again, they can always give unlimited amounts to a national, state, or party committee."
"A third option they have is they can give an unlimited amount to charity organizations. It's often the case that retiring public officials who still have a lot of money will give that money to charities."
Donating leftover money to charity has been a tradition in Maine. It's what former Maine Senators Mitchell, Cohen, and Snowe all did with their leftover campaign money.
The fourth and final use of leftover money, Corrado said, "they can use that money to support other candidates."
Putting any of that money to personal use would be a major campaign finance violation.
Corrado said, "They can't use that money for any personal expenditure like rent, a mortgage payment, or the groceries. Basically any expenses the candidate could have as someone who isn't running for office. This money can not be used for those expenses."
It generally takes campaigns about six months after an election to handle so-called "winding down costs" of running for office-- paying workers, rent for campaign offices, and any other outstanding balances.
With the general election just days away, Susan Collins has more than $4 million left on hand. Gideon has more than $20 million.
Those two hefty balances that will surely carry well beyond November 3.