Arizona Democratic Rep. Ruben Gallego set a new record for the number of Hispanic Senate candidates in the first quarter of fundraising to contest Sen. Kirsten Cinema (I-Ariz.)’s seat.
Gallego raised $3.7 million in its first official fundraising quarter, making it the most successful Latino senator in history.
“Despite funding from Wall Street lobbyists and corporate executives, cinema has not been able to approach our grassroots fundraising efforts,” the congressman said in a statement to The Hill. We are honored to have the trust and support of grassroots donors in. Today’s numbers clearly show that the people of Arizona are with us every day.We have a long way to go. , can’t stop being together.”
Gallego’s campaign touted the amount compared to Cinema’s quarterly figures. Reported by Politicoshe said she would report a $1.7 million increase to the current $9.9 million war fund.
Cinema, who left the Democratic Party in December to become an independent, has yet to announce whether she will run for re-election, but her aggressive fundraising suggests she will.
Gallego is currently the only Arizona state running for Senate next year, and has used a fast-paced bombastic campaign to scare off the Democratic nominee, and potentially discourage Cinema from running as an independent. We are looking forward to the launch.
Republicans have yet to start campaigning, but the election is expected to be very different depending on whether the eventual Republican candidate is on the right or center of the party.
Still, Gallego’s lack of a first challenger so far means he’s free to reach out to Democrats and all sorts of independents right from the start.
“Ruben Gallego’s funding numbers are just the latest example of the strength of his candidacy. It will hold back other Democrats who were thinking of leaving,” said Chuck Rocha, a campaign strategist who runs Gallego’s Latino outreach.
According to his campaign, Gallego received donations from over 106,000 individuals in the first quarter.
“The most impressive element of his grassroots support in the state and across the country is over 100,000 donors, 99% of whom are able to donate again. It’s easy to talk to,” said Rocha.
“But if you have a bunch of people giving you $5, $10, $15 on an ongoing basis, that’s how you build infrastructure in a campaign that you can win statewide in the purple state. I don’t think any other Latino federal candidate has raised as much money.”
Before beginning his run for the Senate, Gallego ran the Bold PAC, the campaign arm of Congress’ Hispanic caucuses, and oversaw that group’s largest-ever midterm elections.
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