BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — Montana Republican Gov. Greg Gianforte reported more than $23 million in revenue over the four years ending in 2022 as the former tech executive, who is seeking re-election to a second term, continues to raise money from investments, according to tax records released. through its campaign.
Democrat Ryan Busse, a former firearms industry executive, is challenging Gianforte in November.
Gianforte spent more than $6 million of his own money on a failed gubernatorial bid in 2016. After reaching Congress in a 2017 special election, he ran for governor four years ago and spent more than $7.5 million defeating Democrat Mike Cooney. by a wide margin, according to campaign finance reports.
According to reports, he has donated about $47,000 to his campaign so far this election season.
Most of Gianforte’s income since 2019 has come from investment income, his tax returns show. He is paid about $120,000 a year to serve as governor.
Spokeswoman Anna Marian Block said Gianforte kept a “commitment to transparency” with Montana residents by releasing the returns.
Since 2005, Gianforte has reported more than $265 million in revenue, according to previous data. Most of the money came after Oracle Corp. bought Gianforte’s Bozeman company, RightNow Technologies, for $1.8 billion.
Democrats and Gianforte’s Republican primary opponents tried unsuccessfully in 2020 to turn Gianforte’s huge fortune into debt, saying he wanted to buy elections.
Busse’s campaign refused to release his tax returns.
