Rep. Hudson’s 2017 fundraising total better than other non-election years

Published 12:00 am Tuesday, October 17, 2017

SALISBURY — U.S. Rep. Richard Hudson’s campaign said Monday that it has raised more money in 2017 than in any previous non-election year.

Hudson, R-8, had raised $826,000 by the end of the third quarter of 2017 — July through September.

Hudson’s campaign said it has also received more individual donations from North Carolinians than in the first three quarters of any prior year.

“I am extremely grateful for the continued and growing support of my fellow North Carolinians,” Hudson said. “Our record-breaking fundraising shows they believe in the work we are doing to fight for common-sense solutions and conservative values.”

After expenses, Hudson’s campaign had $556,347 in cash on hand at the end of the third quarter, according to finance reports submitted Friday. In the third quarter, his campaign raised $172,811 and had net operating expenditures of $113,382.

For the quarter, 66 percent of the money raised by Hudson’s campaign, $117,000, came from political action committees. The remaining 34 percent came from individuals.

Local contributors to Hudson’s campaign included Terry Osborne of Salisbury, who gave $250; Thomas Ford of Salisbury, who gave a total of $105; Tony Almeida of Salisbury, $250; Timothy Vaughn of Kannapolis, $500; Evander Rowell of Kannapolis, $250; and Frederick Hilbish of Kannapolis, $1,000.

PACs that gave the maximum contribution — $5,000 — to Hudson’s campaign in the third quarter include the American Association of Orthodondists PAC; Comcast Corp. and NBC Universal PAC; National Cable and Telecommunications Association PAC;  and Charter Communications PAC.

The Hudson campaign’s total operating expenditures were $114,984 in the third quarter.

The largest portion of that total went to Republic Strategies LLC, a political consulting firm in Alexandria, Virginia. On Aug. 22, Hudson’s campaign paid $20,275 to the consulting firm. On Sept. 5, the campaign paid another $20,657 to the consulting firm. The stated purpose on federal campaign finance forms is “fundraising consulting.”

Hudson’s third-quarter cash-on-hand total — $556,347 — puts him fifth among North Carolina’s 13 congressional representatives.

Contact Josh Bergeron at 704-797-4246.