Valadao announces big quarter fundraising totals. TJ Cox has more cash on hand

Valadao’s campaign referred to the cash haul as a “historic single-month record” for the Central Valley congressional seat.

“I am thankful to have such strong support from so many of my Central Valley neighbors,” said Valadao in a press release. “Our team is overwhelmed by the enthusiasm and show of support in the first month of the campaign. Voters are excited and eager to have a strong voice they can trust representing them in Congress again.”

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His opponent in 2020, TJ Cox, hasn’t exactly folded up his tent and conceded the race to Valadao, whom he beat by just a few thousand votes in 2018. Cox is a prodigious fundraiser as well, bringing in roughly $1.1 million in total receipts in 2019, and in the latest report, announcing contributions of $350,000 during the most recent fundraising quarter, July 1 through Sept. 30, 2019.

"TJ's campaign has just had its best quarter of the year thanks to strong grassroots support," said a spokesperson for his campaign. "His fight for the Central Valley has made him a target for Washington special interests who'd rather have a rubber stamp for Donald Trump in Congress, but TJ's already delivering for the Central Valley on issues like providing relief to family farms and communities from Firebaugh to Arvin are taking notice."

According to the Federal Election Commission, the federal agency that tracks campaign contributions and expenditures for the year, Cox has raised about $1.1 million and currently has $645,000 cash on hand compared to Valadao’s cash on hand of $539,559.

The Leader attempted to contact Valadao’s campaign regarding its claim of a single-month fundraising record but has not received a response. A look at the rolls of his contributors reveals a healthy mix of local residents, farmers, and businesses, and PACs as he gins up for what promises to be an interesting but competitive campaign.