AUGUSTA – Maine’s two major political parties spent almost $3 million on this year’s elections.

The Maine Democratic Party reported spending more than $2 million to support candidates up and down the ticket, including Gov. John Baldacci, who was re-elected in November.

The Maine Republican Party spent almost $968,000 for the year, according to financial reports that were due Tuesday.

Much of the money the parties raised and spent had been reported earlier. The most recent financial disclosure report covers the period from Oct. 27 to Dec. 12.

While the Democratic Party was able to double the overall spending of the Republican Party, the GOP won the race for late spending. In the final reporting period, Democrats reported raising $210,937 and spending $360,138. Republicans raised $262,518 and spent $445,520.

Both parties relied upon several large donors to stuff their coffers.

For Republicans, most of the party’s money came from transfers from House and Senate Republican campaign committees. House Republicans gave the state party $153,500. Senate Republicans chipped in another $75,200.

Two tobacco companies also made contributions. RJ Reynolds contributed $5,000 and Philip Morris USA gave $10,000.

Dirigo PAC, which is the leadership PAC for U.S. Sen. Susan Collins, contributed $5,000.

For Democrats, the largest contribution during the period came from the Senate Democratic Campaign Committee, a political action committee run by Senate Democrats, which gave $43,000.

Donald Sussman, president of Paloma Partners Management Co. gave $25,000.

Former Virginia Gov. Mark Warner’s PAC contributed $10,000 to the party, as did Elmet Technologies Inc. in Lewiston; Casella Waste Systems, XWAVE, a consulting company in Augusta that has done work for the Department of Corrections and the Department of Economic and Community Development; Maine State Cope; IGT-International Game Technology; and Verizon Communication Corp.

U.S. Cellular contributed $9,500.

Waste Management, the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, Scientific Games Inc., Grassroots Democrats, Duke Energy, HNTB Corp. and Wal-Mart each gave $5,000.

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