PRESS RELEASE: Rufus Gifford Raises $500,000 from Over 1,100 Contributions in First Month and Half of Campaign

January 11, 2018

Gifford also announces new campaign headquarters and field staffers in downtown Lowell, thanks to support from grassroots donors

CONCORD, Mass. —Rufus Gifford, a first-time candidate who served as ambassador to Denmark under President Obama, today announced $500,000 raised from over 1,100 contributions during the initial month-and-a-half of his campaign for Massachusetts Third Congressional District. Gifford shared his strong grassroots support, with nearly 75 percent of his donations coming in at $100 or less.

Gifford also announced the opening of his campaign headquarters at 175 Merrimack Street in downtown Lowell and hiring of Field Director Meaghan Callahan and Field Organizer Ravy Uong, thanks to the grassroots donor support.

“I’m thrilled by this level of support and the amazing number of people that are coming together around our campaign,” said Gifford. “We exceeded every goal we set, which will allow us to run the type of grassroots operation we want to run, connecting with diverse voters across the district.”

Earlier this winter, Gifford rolled out his campaign team, featuring veterans of the campaigns of President Barack Obama and Congresswoman Niki Tsongas. The team includes former Tsongas Executive Director Ben Martello as campaign manager; Field First for grassroots organizing; Archipelago Strategies Group for multicultural media; 270 Strategies for digital outreach; and Maggie Rothschild for fundraising.

Over the past several weeks, Gifford has been travelling the district meeting with diverse community leaders, and his grassroots organizers have been signing up supporters from downtowns to college campuses across the district.

About Rufus Gifford:
On November 13, Rufus Gifford announced his campaign for Congress in Massachusetts Third Congressional District. For the past four years, Rufus served the United States overseas as President 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.”

He previously served as Obama’s national finance director, leading efforts to raise a record $1 billion for Obama’s 2012 reelection campaign. Gifford lives in Concord with his husband Stephen and dog Argos. For more information, visit: www.RufusGifford.com.

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