Jill Vogel rocks fundraising totals for 2017 race

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.