Scoop: Eugene Vindman's monster $1.5 million fundraising haul
Why it matters: It's the biggest haul for an incumbent frontline Democrat this quarter — sending a clear signal to any potential GOP challenger that a race to unseat him will be expensive.
With some 30,000 unique donors on his fundraising list, Vindman, whose twin brother, Alexander, was a star impeachment witness against Trump, is again showing real skill in converting #resistance energy into hard dollars.
Driving the news: Lawmakers and challengers are starting to release their fundraising totals for the quarter, which are due by July 15, to show their strength and how serious they are about 2026.
Republican incumbents are also putting up big fundraising numbers.
Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-Iowa), who won the closest race last cycle, raised $1.2 million in the second quarter and will show $2 million cash on hand.
Former Iowa State Rep. Christina Bohannan announced yesterday she raised more than $800,000 in the first two weeks in her third try to defeat Miller-Meeks.
And Rep. Derrick Van Orden (R-Wis.) raised 1.2 million last quarter, with 1.7 million cash on hand.
Rep. Zach Nunn (R-Iowa) brought in $780,000 and has $1.2 million cash on hand.
Flashback: In the 2024 cycle, Vindman raised nearly $18 million, finishing behind only House Speaker Mike Johnson and Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries.
He trounced his opponent in the money race on his way to winning the district by some 3 points, slightly smaller than Vice President Harris' margin.
In Trump's first term, Vindman served on the National Security Council with his brother Alexander, who testified against Trump during impeachment, turning both of them into MSNBC stars and opening a path for Eugene to run for Congress.
What they are saying:"Our common sense approach continues to resonate with folks across Virginia's Seventh District and our great nation," he said in a statement first shared with Axios.
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Kentucky school official resigns after allegedly calling to ‘shoot Republicans' on social media
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