Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand has raised $3 million since launching her presidential bid, her campaign said Sunday, a sum that puts the New York Democrat near the bottom of Democrats’ fundraising leaderboard after the year's first quarter.

But Gillibrand still has a hefty sum in her campaign account — over $10 million, more than a number of her opponents — thanks to a big transfer of leftover funds from her 2018 Senate reelection campaign. Gillibrand’s spokeswoman didn’t disclose the number of donors who contributed to her bid, as some other campaigns in the grassroots-obsessed Democratic primary have so far.

In a memo shared with supporters, Gillibrand's campaign argued that her lower haul is due, in part, to backlash from “establishment donors” who are punishing Gillibrand for calling on former Minnesota Sen. Al Franken to resign after several sexual harassment allegations in 2017.

“There’s no question that the first quarter was adversely impacted by certain establishment donors — and many online — who continue to punish Kirsten for standing up for her values and for women,” the memo reads. “Kirsten is committed to fighting for a Democratic Party that values women and does not sacrifice women for political convenience or power.”

TO: Interested Parties
FROM: Gillibrand Campaign
DATE: April 14, 2019

TOPLINES: Following a two-month exploratory campaign and official launch in late March, Kirsten Gillibrand raised $3 million in the first quarter of 2019 and will be in the top four for cash-on-hand, with $10.2 million in the bank. This strong financial standing means that Kirsten will continue to fund a strategic and growing operation in early states that is focused on introducing her to voters and building strong relationships on the ground.

The Race Is Wide Open

Our campaign’s strategy from day one has focused on Kirsten’s ability to win over a room. In her nearly 60 public events this quarter, Kirsten met with caucus-goers and primary voters in small and medium settings and earned high praise in living rooms, tap rooms, coffee shops and town halls across the country.

This intentionally local approach doesn’t focus on winning the national news cycle, the Twitter primary or even statewide polling this early in the game. Instead it recognizes that voters in places like Iowa and New Hampshire rightfully expect personal conversations with Kirsten - and that’s how she’ll earn votes.

Polling conducted a year before the Iowa caucuses is not predictive. Historical data shows that polling fluctuates significantly over the course of an election cycle as name identification increases, and where a candidate starts does not necessarily indicate where they will end up. And despite the media’s focus on polling, most candidates in the field are relatively unknown this early in the race. The majority of the primary electorate hasn’t yet heard of or formed an opinion about Kirsten Gillibrand, and polls show that high name recognition is directly correlated to current support in the polls. When it comes to the quality of her name ID, Kirsten’s favorability
rating has increased by more points than average among top candidates as voters hear from her.

Based on qualifying polls, Kirsten will be on the debate stage for the first two debates, which is the earliest that most primary voters will start tuning into the nominating contest.

Exciting Growth Since Officially Launching Campaign

Since officially launching, Kirsten’s campaign continues to grow in exciting ways. Within two weeks of the official launch on March 17th, Kirsten’s total number of donors doubled. Her MSNBC town hall on March 18th had over 1.2 million viewers and ranked in the top three town halls among presidential contenders. Views of her top content online have increased by more than 100%. Of the online donations made within 48 hours of her CNN town hall on April 9th, 63% were new donors, with a $20 average gift. Of her total April donations, 40% were made in the 48 hours following the CNN town hall.

In the latest Morning Consult poll, Kirsten remains in the top 8 of preferred candidates in a field that includes the unannounced former Vice President Biden

Kirsten’s Path To Victory

Key takeaways from the 2016 presidential race and 2018 midterms show that in order for Democrats to win in the general election, they need to persuade and energize women. We’ve also seen time and time again that primary voters are most interested in a candidate who can beat Donald Trump, and Kirsten has already made a compelling case against him.

Women led Democrats’ success in 2018 - by running for office and voting in record numbers. Of the total House seats flipped, women won the majority. Female candidates won both Senate seats that flipped from red to blue, and four of seven of the governorships. Fifty-eight percent of women say they are paying more attention to politics since Trump’s election. Candidates that can represent the values of this key electorate will win in a general.

Iowa is a prime example of the current electorate - where traditionally right-leaning suburbs split their ticket to elect the state’s first two Democratic women to the House. In nearly every county, these women outperformed the top of their ticket, gubernatorial candidate Fred Hubbell. Kirsten has this ability to win voters across the ideological spectrum—she is the top Democratic vote getter in New York State history, due to her performance in red and purple areas.

Kirsten has taken on a tough fight and won before. In 2006, she defeated an entrenched Republican incumbent in a nearly 2-1 Republican district when many pundits had counted her out.

● Post-Star: “Presidential hopeful Gillibrand has a history of overcoming the odds.”
● New York Times: “…the new crop of young Democratic dragon slayers who won in Republican districts or swing states, like Representatives Kirsten Gillibrand of New York...”
● Post-Star: “…Gillibrand pulled off the impossible, unseating the unseatable Sweeney.”
● Times-Union: “In 2006, she pulled off a major upset in her bid to unseat well-connected Republican incumbent U.S. Rep. John Sweeney in a GOP-dominated district

First Quarter Fundraising Details

With $10.2 million cash on hand, Kirsten is ready for the year ahead. Of the $3 million that Kirsten raised in the first quarter, 92% of contributions were under $200, with 83% under $50 and the average online grassroots donation was $25. Nearly two-thirds of our donors were women, the majority of donors had never given to Kirsten before and educators represented the single largest set of donors by occupation.

Despite this strong financial footing, there’s no question that the first quarter was adversely impacted by certain establishment donors - and many online - who continue to punish Kirsten for standing up for her values and for women. As she made clear in her MSNBC town hall in March “there are a few Democratic powerful donors who are angry… and that’s on them.”

Kirsten is not afraid of doing what’s right, no matter the cost. Kirsten is committed to fighting for a Democratic Party that values women and does not sacrifice women for political convenience or power.

Kirsten is already sprinting into the second quarter of the year. She heads to Iowa this week for a three day trip, which will include a rural listening tour of southwest Iowa, visits with college students and an exciting endorsement! In the coming weeks she returns to New Hampshire, Texas and more. Stay tuned!