Daniel Hildreth

Daniel Hildreth is a Maine leftist donor.

Maine power players

Donald Sussman, his daughter, Emily Sussman, and Daniel Hildreth are listed as attendees of the Democracy Alliance's 2014 meeting at the Ritz Carlton Chicago , where progressive power players are believed to have crafted a dark money spending strategy for the 2014 elections. The alliance does not accept donations itself, but serves as a pass through organization facilitating the transfer of millions of dollars in anonymous dark money to political action committees and 501(c)4s such as the Maine People's Alliance.

Last year, the New York Times gave some indication that Maine’s prominent Democratic figures would be associating with the Democracy Alliance to influence the 2014 elections. “In Maine,” the Times wrote, “a consortium of progressive groups financed by the hedge fund billionaire S. Donald Sussman, [a Democracy Alliance] member, is looking to unseat Gov. Paul R. LePage this year and put both the governor’s office and the Legislature under Democratic control.”

Although Sussman’s membership with the DA is well-known, the list indicates that his daughter is a new member.

Emily Tisch Sussman is the campaign director for the Center for American Progress Action Fund.

Daniel Hildreth, of Falmouth, is the grandson of former Maine governor Horace Hildreth, a Republican. Horace established Maine’s first television station, WABI-TV, a company which is still controlled by Daniel via his Portland-based firm Diversified Communications. Additionally, Hildreth is the vice chair of GrowSmart a trustee of the Maine Audubon and a board member of OnlineMariner.com.

Hildreth’s connection to the DA was previously unknown.

He is currently serving as the campaign treasurer for Democrat Shenna Bellows’ U.S. Senate campaign.

Since 2008, Hildreth has donated $14,483 to Democratic causes and candidates in Maine. On the federal level, he has donated to several Democratic candidates and political action committees, including $1000 donations each to U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.), Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) and Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.). Since 2008, Hildreth has given $8000 to U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree (D-Maine), Sussman’s wife.

A 2012 story by the Portland Press Herald, a newspaper owned by Sussman, listed Hildreth as the 5th largest giver to federal campaigns in Maine. That year, Hildreth gave $30,800 to the Democratic National Committee and $50,000 to the Obama Victory Fund 2012, according to Federal Election Commission records.