Impressive haul. From the release:
El Monte, CA – State Senator Gil Cedillo today reported having raised $568,000 in the first quarter of 2009, with over $441,000 cash on hand. Cedillo officially entered the race for the vacant 32nd Congressional District in late January, giving him just over two months to raise money prior to the first fundraising disclosure deadline. The FEC quarter one deadline was on Tuesday, March 31st and the reports are made public today.
The Cedillo campaign has publicly stated an ambitious goal of raising $750,000 prior to the May 19th Special Primary Election. The strong quarter one fundraising numbers mean the campaign has already raised 75% of the desired budget.
I’ll post Q1 numbers for other candidates as soon as I have them.
UPDATE with part of the release from Emmanuel Pleitez, who raised $152,777:
LOS ANGELES – Today the Emanuel Pleitez Campaign for Congress announced that it has raised $152,777 in campaign contributions through the first quarter of 2009. That surprisingly large figure, coupled with a ground force of 25 full-time volunteers engaged in technology, finance, communications and grassroots outreach efforts, places the 32nd District candidate squarely in the middle of a three-way race for the vacant Congressional seat.
“Our field and fundraising efforts have exceeded expectations, and we have proven that we are contenders in this race,” said Pleitez. “But the financial reports only tell part of the story of my campaign. We’ve got 25 full-time volunteers who are donating their time to this effort, and it’s impossible to calculate their value. Not only are they giving us their expertise, they’re also contributing their enthusiasm for the political process and their determination to bring new leadership to the 32nd District.
Not a bad haul for Emanuel, who is showing that he doesn’t consider himself an also-ran in this district and is in it to win.