Observers of Virginia’s political scene have expected that Sen. Jill Vogel (R-Fauquier) would make a splash in the Lieutenant Governor’s race when the first big fundraising numbers were released. Few, I suspect, believed it would be quite this big of a splash.
The Bull Elephant has learned that the Vogel campaign is announcing this afternoon that its 2016 haul amounts to over $1 million. We’re also told that the campaign has preserved a very high proportion of that as cash on hand.
According to the campaign’s press release (and as I discussed yesterday), a big part of the argument the Vogel camp is using is that she is a benefit to the ticket, not only as a Republican woman from Northern Virginia (broadly speaking), but as someone who can keep pace with the top of the ticket when it comes to fundraising, regardless of who that is. A haul of $1,002,904 goes a long way in that direction.
The text of Vogel’s press release can be found below:
Vogel Ready to Win With Seven-Figure Fundraising Haul
Senator Jill Vogel, a 2017 candidate for Lieutenant Governor, will report a fundraising total of more than $1,000,000 on her 2016 year-end campaign finance filing.
“I am humbled by the generosity and support of so many people throughout the Commonwealth,” said Vogel. “I could not have done it without the overwhelming enthusiasm of so many Republicans ready to unite and win in 2017.”
This total is particularly noteworthy considering the greater attention being paid to the vigorous gubernatorial primary. Despite four diverse choices up ballot, Vogel has successfully made her case for being a unifying and ticket-boosting running mate to those also supporting the gubernatorial campaigns.
“This total demonstrates the growing momentum of a campaign unifying the party in anticipation of its first statewide win since 2009,” added campaign manager Pat Trueman. “Republicans have found in Jill Vogel a capable running mate who strengthens the ticket no matter who clenches the gubernatorial nomination.”
Since announcing in March of 2016, Vogel has traveled Virginia extensively, meeting with grassroots Republicans, civic leaders, and elected officials. Her hard work in earning the support of Republicans of all persuasions is reflected in the breadth of her donor base.
Although precluded from fundraising during session by law, the Vogel campaign expects this field-leading pace to continue after adjournment when all three candidates return to the campaign trail.
“Republicans celebrating their nationwide win in 2016 are eager to feel that same sense of victory in Virginia this year” continued Vogel. “I am so grateful for the continued support and encouragement from voters across Virginia who are ready to win again.”
Stay tuned for other disclosures of statewide candidate finance reports, which will be coming overnight and in the morning tomorrow.
19 comments
Subpoena response confirms: Gmail account verified by Alex Vogel’s cellphone, He is responsible for its use.
What is the alternative narrative? Someone temporarily stole Alex’s phone but he never noticed, never reported it? If so, who could be close enough to him to pull that off?
The shared wifi and IP address nonsense is irrelevant. Whomever created this account had access to Alex Vogel’s cellphone. That much is certain.
Lie dectector
Reeves may not have been born in Virginia, but he sure demonstrates that altruistic, bi-partisan approach to public service that Virginia needs now. One need only look at how he quickly, quietly and effectively negotiated a deal with the Governor on one of the most “hot button” issues that threatened to cause more Washington-style, absolutist gridlock. Too bad there aren’t a lot more of that kind of public servant — who will generate sane results the public wants so badly. Further, his credentials are nothing to “sniff at” — an outstanding military graduate of Texas A&M, an Army Ranger, a graduate degree (MPA) in Public Administration from Virginia’s George Mason University, and a graduate of one of the programs in Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government. Hard to beat the coupling of those credentials with savvy, civil and effective leadership on very difficult issues.
In short, Reeves has the clear capability to be another in a line of quiet-but-effective Lieutenant Governors from both parties.
Her character remains questionable. It appears that the e-mail allegation against Reeves really did originate from her husband’s phone. A very sophisticated hacker would need to have a lot of inside information to create such a specific and specifically targeted e-mail to carefully selected recipients. She may raise tons of money, but this looks like Class C (in old baseball minor league structure terminology, with class D being the lowest) stunt that will haunt her.
A whole bunch of 100 dollar plus donations not exactly grass roots!
Jonathan I think the numbers speak louder. 485 UNDER $100 contributions to Vogel for Va vs 156 for both reeves for LG and revitalize Virginia pac and 25 for Davis for LG.
188k from herself and her family. Astro turf, not grassroots.
She still beat Reeves even without the 188k.
Without the 188k she raised 270k vs. Bryce’s pathetic 169k.
485 x 99 = $48,000
1,000,000 – 48,000 = $952,000
What on God’s green earth are these numbers shouting at you?
I realize that the “Holtzman” in Holtzman-Vogel brings a lot of wealth connections, but, still, Wow! That is an intimidating amount
Jonathan I think the numbers speak louder. 485 UNDER $100 contributions to Vogel for Va vs 156 for both reeves for LG and revitalize Virginia pac and 25 for Davis for LG.
Let’s all ask where did Jill’s money come from? Does money make up for past discretion or does it make someone above the law in VIrginia? Ask Jill to turn over Alex’s cell phone and allow an independent forensics expert to see if they were indeed hacked as she claims.
Google PAC?
lol, why should she feel compelled to do anything at this point? Mr Reeves is apparently not going to defend his honour in court (why he wouldn’t seems to be a reasonable question) and she’s the front runner with a million bucks in her pocket. That sound you hear is her scoffing at him.
And you don’t have to ask where the money came from. If you care enough, look it up.
Why do you think Reeves won’t defend his honor in court? This thing is far from over.
Why would I? Until he puts pen to paper, it’s just a bunch of grandstanding.
The stroke has been delivered, soon the fillet will be complete.
And that’s what it will stay.
He’s more interested in putting up facebook attack ads than submitting himself to discovery.
It will never get to court.