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PRESS RELEASE: Gifford Announces Fundraising, Field Momentum in First Quarter

Raises $400,000 in Q1, conducts extensive people-to-people operation

April 13, 2018

LOWELL—Rufus Gifford, candidate for Congress in Massachusetts’ 3rd congressional district, today provided an update on campaign activities in the first three months of 2018.

“I’m honored to receive a groundswell of support and enthusiasm from all corners of the district,” said Gifford. “The past three months have been busy, building momentum, establishing human connections with voters, and investing heavily in field activities. I couldn’t be happier with the progress we’re making.”

Finance

In the first quarter of 2018, Gifford raised nearly $400,000, bringing his overall total raised to more than $900,000. Since launching his campaign in November 2017, he has received more than 2,000 contributions, and nearly 70 percent of those contributions have been $100 or less. He has also received contributions from two thirds of the 37 cities and towns in the district.

“I thank everyone who has contributed from the bottom of my heart,” said Gifford. “They are ensuring we can continue to run the people-first, grassroots campaign we have been running.”

Field

The campaign has invested significant time and resources in grassroots organizing and establishing genuine human connections between Gifford and voters.

Gifford has traveled to all 37 cities and towns in the district and has participated in more than 50 site visits, roundtables, and meetings with community leaders; more than 40 “coffee and conversations” and house parties; more than a dozen Democratic town and city caucuses and Democratic Town Committee meetings; and 4 protest marches. Additionally, the campaign had a presence at every Democratic caucus in the district.

“Traveling around the district, engaging in those old-fashioned neighbor-to-neighbor conversations is not only the most rewarding aspect of this campaign, it’s a huge part of restoring trust in our political system—which I’m obsessed with.” said Gifford.

The campaign recently announced that it submitted more than 2,000 certified signatures to the Secretary of the Commonwealth, an early milestone that ensures Gifford will be on the ballot. The campaign hosts nightly phone banks, multiple canvasses per week, and has trained more than 30 fellows in community organizing. Overall, the campaign has had one-on-one conversations with tens of thousands of voters in the district.

“Moving forward, we’re going to keep doing what we’re doing, getting out there, hearing from voters, and helping restore our democracy back to its purest form: the human relationship,” Gifford concluded.

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