Disclosures Reveal Braley’s Vulnerability in Iowa’s 1st Congressional District
INDEPENDENCE, IA – Ben Lange, a rising conservative candidate in Iowa’s 1st Congressional District, outraised the liberal Democrat incumbent Bruce Braley in fundraising for the 2nd Quarter, according to financial disclosures released yesterday. Lange raised $108,587 compared with Braley’s $106,678.
The disclosures reveal a stunning disconnect between Braley and his constituents in the 1st District. Out of approximately 400,000 registered voters in the district, only six constituents contributed to Braley’s reelection bid this past quarter. Braley was forced to rely instead on out-of-state donors to provide 88% of his support, thereby reopening the issue of outside influence in congressional campaigns.
Lange’s disclosures, on the other hand, reveal a broad-based grassroots fundraising apparatus directly tied to the constituents and interests of the 1st District. In fact, Lange raised 85% of his funds from constituents inside the district. The disclosures also reveal that 96% of Lange’s support came directly from individual donors, whereas Braley relied heavily on political action committees tied to Washington interests.
“The fact that Ben Lange, an inspiring conservative candidate, outraised a liberal incumbent in a conservative district who votes with Nancy Pelosi 98% of the time shouldn’t be surprising,” said Cody Brown, campaign manager for the Lange campaign. “This is a conservative district and voters, regardless of political party, are searching for a genuine conservative alternative to the policies being advanced by President Obama, Speaker Pelosi, and Congressman Braley. Thankfully, voters of all political stripes, including conservative Democrats, will have an authentic conservative alternative in Ben Lange come November. This is beyond politics, this is about the future of our country.”
