(Getty Images)
Democrat Maryam Abolfazli, candidate for Congress in Tennessee’s 5th Congressional District, is touting her contributions from small-dollar donors.
Abolfazli, who is running unopposed in the Democratic primary, tails in fundraising the competitive Republican primary featuring Metro Councilmember Courtney Johnston against first-term incumbent U.S. Rep. Andy Ogles.
Abolfazli reported raising $5,677 for the pre-primary reporting period which ended July 20.
Johnston raised $63,615 for the same period, while Ogles raised $13,996.08.
According to both a press release from the Abolfazli campaign and a review of Federal Election Commission reports, the majority of funds received by Abolfazli come from donors who have given $200 or less. Unitemized contributions, or those of less than $100, total $43,873, or about one quarter of her $174,758 total raised since Abolfazli entered the race.
Maryam Abolfazli. (Photo: Submitted)
“The lifeblood of our campaign are the people of the 5th District,” Albofazli said in a statement. “They want change, transparent leadership, and they want someone in Washington who won’t be influenced by the political machine.”
Notable donors to Abolfazli include Nashville philanthropists Amy and Frank Garrison, who have each given the $3,300 maximum amount for both the primary and general elections, regular Democratic donor Kathy Olsen, environmental attorney Anne Davis and Hal Cato, CEO of the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee.
Johnston has raised nearly $785,000, of which $11,000 or about 1.4% comes from donors who have given less than $100. Notable donors include former Gov. Bill Haslam, former U.S. Sens. Bob Corker and Bill Frist, former Nashville Vice-Mayor Jim Shulman, former Commissioner of Economic and Community Development Bob Rolfe and Williamson County Mayor Rogers Anderson.
Ogles has amended his disclosures several times recently but the exact nature of the amendments is not clearly discernible from a review of his Federal Election Commission reports. His tenure in office has been marked by questions about his accounting and reporting practices.
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