The campaign of Elise Stefanik, Chair of the House Republican Conference, announced on March 28 that fundraising efforts during the first quarter of this year has yielded $7.1 million. The number includes donations to her campaign, as well as funds put up by the House Battleground Fund, and funds kicked in by national committees and other candidates. In sum, over 70,000 donors contributed, averaging $21 a piece.
Stefanik’s quarter is the best of her career, beating her previous record of $5.2 million, which she racked up during the final quarter of 2023.
This brings the total take for the Stefanik campaign to $20 million, for this election cycle. The disclosures come well ahead of the April 15 filing deadline for Q1 fundraising.
Stefanik’s performance lends credence to rumors that she may be in line for the role of Donald Trump’s running mate in the upcoming presidential elections. She previously garnered national attention when she defended Trump in Congress. She earned even more exposure when she questioned several university presidents at a hearing, the video of which went viral.
The Congresswoman, who hails from New York’s 21st Congressional district, was a prominent speaker at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) , which was held last month at National Harbor’s Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center in Maryland.
When she was asked, during a Meet the Press interview in January, if she would take the job of Vice Presidential candidate if offered, she said that she would find any role in an upcoming Trump administration to be an honor. She further said that she considered it a point of pride that she was the first member of congress to endorse Trump in his run for re-election. She is happy to be labeled as a supporter of the former President, and expressed confidence that he will be victorious in the 2024 electoral contest this November.
In other words, she’s leaving the door open.
