PRESS RELEASE: Rufus Gifford Announces Campaign for Massachusetts Third Congressional District
After serving America overseas as Obama’s ambassador to Denmark, Gifford returns to run in district with strong family history
CONCORD, Mass. — Rufus Gifford today announced his campaign for the Massachusetts Third Congressional District, pledging to engage residents in a conversation around restoring America’s relationships, trust, and respect.
WATCH RUFUS GIFFORD’S ANNOUNCEMENT VIDEO:
For the past four years, Rufus has served the United States overseas as Barack Obama’s ambassador to Denmark, earning plaudits for connecting with people at a grassroots level. His tenure was filmed by Danish TV, and later picked up by Netflix as a two-season documentary: “I am the Ambassador.”
Throughout Obama’s presidency, Rufus helped promote initiatives around universal health care, climate change and equality. He previously served as Obama’s national finance director, leading efforts to raise a record $1 billion for Obama’s 2012 reelection campaign.
Rufus’s family has called the Third Congressional District home for generations. His ancestors settled in Andover, Chelmsford and Concord. Rufus, 43, grew up in Manchester by the Sea, just outside of the district. He recently moved into a home in Concord with his husband Stephen, just down the street from his sister, aunts, uncles and cousins.
This is Rufus’s first campaign for political office. He has pledged to travel the Third Congressional District over the next year to earn the trust and respect of voters. To do this, Rufus will hold a series of community tours and house parties to listen to the concerns of residents, as he shapes his policies.
For more information, visit: www.RufusGifford.com.
SAMPLING OF MEDIA PROFILES OF RUFUS
The Atlantic: A freelance diplomat takes Scandinavia
PBS News Hour: In Copenhagen, an ambassador who is also a reality TV star
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/ambassador
CNN: ‘I am the Ambassador’ Denmark’s reality TV darling is the anti-Trump
http://www.cnn.com/2016/10/25/opinions/sutter-denmark-us-election/index.html
The Washington Post: Gay U.S. Ambassador opens up about marriage to longtime partner
The Huffington Post: The man behind Obama’s historic fundraising machine
https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/11/10/rufus-gifford-obama-fundraising_n_1086188.html
###