AUGUSTA — Even before a new governor and Legislature are elected next Tuesday, behind-the-scenes jockeying for Maine House and Senate leadership posts are under way.

More than a dozen political action committees directly or indirectly connected to candidates with leadership aspirations have raised hundreds of thousands of dollars. And while no paper trail exists, political observers say candidates hoping for a leadership role in the Legislature use campaign fundraising to also endear themselves to prospective colleagues.

Candidates for leadership set up PACs for two reasons, said Ronald Schmidt, professor of political science at the University of Southern Maine. One is to raise money for their own campaigns, which are getting increasingly expensive. And the other is to raise money for other lawmakers, whose votes they may soon depend upon.

“It’s creating connections with other legislators,” said Schmidt.

Money raised by the candidates generally gets funneled to larger, umbrella PACS, which parcel it out in competitive legislative races.

The Senate Democratic Campaign Committee, for example, has spent $100,000 this year to elect or defeat candidates for the 35-seat Senate, a report with the state Commission on Governmental Ethics and Election Practices shows.

The Maine Senate Republican Majority PACs, hoping to give the GOP its first Senate majority in a decade and a half, has plowed at least $128,000 into supporting or opposing candidates.

In the other chamber, catch-all PACs for majority Democrats and Republicans show significant activity bankrolling races. The House Democratic Campaign Committee alone has spent $300,000 to support or oppose candidates, while two major Republican PACs show $113,000 spent.

But those reports only show part of the picture. In some cases, individual candidates for leadership posts parcel out money from their PACs individually to fellow party members seeking legislative seats.

The PAC reports help to identify who is actually planning to run for leadership posts – provided they are first re-elected to the House or Senate seats they occupy. Donors represent a diverse array of special interests, including insurance companies, unions, banks, energy companies, drug store chains, cable companies and law firms, in addition to individuals.

In the Senate, three Democratic contestants, all with PACs, appear likely to seek the president’s post, which is being vacated by Democratic gubernatorial nominee Libby Mitchell. Sens. Philip Bartlett II of Gorham, Bill Diamond of Windham and Barry Hobbins of Saco, each have PACs. Bartlett is the current majority leader and Diamond co-chairs the high-profile and powerful Appropriations Committee.

On the Republican side, Sen. Richard Rosen of Bucksport, the senior GOP member of Appropriations, could face the current GOP floor leader, Sen. Kevin Raye of Perry, for the presidency if their party prevails with a majority on Tuesday.

“I have some definite ideas of how I can reform and improve the management and operations of the state Senate, and I look forward to the opportunity to discuss them with membership,” Rosen said.

Probable contestants for Democratic floor leader include Sens. Seth Goodall of Richmond and Larry Bliss of South Portland, while Sens. Margaret Craven of Lewiston and Justin Alfond of Portland are said to be vying for the assistant’s spot.

Republican Sen. Jonathan Courtney of Springvale may want to rise from assistant floor leader to floor leader, and three senators – Earle McCormick of West Gardiner, David Trahan of Waldoboro and Christopher Rector of Thomaston – are apparently interested in the assistant leader’s post.

In the House, where Democrats seem more likely to retain a majority, a two-way race for speaker could shape up between Reps. Emily Cain of Orono – now the Appropriations House chair – and Seth Berry of Bowdoinham, who is finishing up as majority whip.

A four-way race for majority leader could include Reps. Gary Connor of Kennebunk, Sharon Treat of Hallowell, Richard Cleary of Houlton and Michael Carey of Lewiston.

On the GOP side, Rep. Philip Curtis of Madison may seek to rise to floor leader from the assistant’s spot. He could face Rep. Stacy Fitts of Pittsfield.