First Time in Idaho History a Gubernatorial Campaign Raises Over $1 Million in Calendar Year Prior to Election
EAGLE, ID — Dr. Tommy Ahlquist's Campaign for Governor today announced that in the first 10 months from March 1 to December 31, 2017, the campaign raised over $1 million — marking the first time in Idaho history a gubernatorial campaign has raised over $1 million in the calendar year prior to the election. This record breaking number follows the Ahlquist campaign's July 31 financial announcement that was also the single largest mid-year fundraising total for a Governor's race in state history.
"Competing with career politicians who collectively have held elected office for 27 years, have raised and spent millions of dollars campaigning for public office, and are campaigning on taxpayer dollars requires significant resources and significant investment," said Senior Advisor Travis Hawkes. "Tommy is a political outsider who started with no established political or fundraising network — and these historic levels of support are a direct reflection of Idahoans' desire for a fresh approach and new ideas in the Governor's office. The sheer energy and passion we're seeing for Tommy's Conservative Blueprint for an Even Better Idaho has translated into a flow of donations from hundreds of small business owners, ranchers, farmers, doctors, nurses and families throughout the state — and we couldn't be more grateful for their support."
In addition to the historic fundraising total in this 10 month period, Tommy personally invested an additional $326,000 — bringing his overall contributions to the campaign to just over $700,000 and total campaign contributions to $1.7 million. The campaign's financial report was filed with the Idaho Secretary of State on January 31, 2018.
Financial Report at a Glance
- Campaign raised over $1 million in total, including $450,000 (July 1 – December 31, 2017) and over $575,000 (March 1 – June 30, 2017)
- Candidate investment for 2017 was $700,000
- More than 50 percent of the total donations were under $100 for 2017
The Power of Grassroots Support
The composition of Tommy's fundraising was as significant as its total. The fact that more than half of all 2017 donations were under $100 was a powerful indicator of the authentic, grassroots nature of the campaign's support. Tommy wasn't being sustained by a small number of large donors with political agendas — he was being backed by hundreds of ordinary Idahoans who believed in his vision and were willing to put their own money behind it.
Small business owners, farmers, ranchers, doctors, nurses, teachers, and families from across all 44 Idaho counties contributed to the campaign. This diverse donor base reflected the geographic and demographic breadth of Tommy's appeal — a conservative blueprint that resonated with Idahoans from the panhandle to the Snake River Plain, from the Treasure Valley to the eastern mountains.
The fundraising record also validated what had been building in county after county during Tommy's 44-county tour: a genuine grassroots movement driven by Idahoans who were ready for a different kind of leadership — one grounded in real-world experience and conservative principle rather than career politics and institutional inertia.
A Campaign Breaking Records
The million-dollar milestone in 2017 built on a series of earlier records. Tommy's mid-year fundraising announcement in July 2017 had already set the single largest mid-year fundraising total for a governor's race in Idaho history — a record that itself had seemed extraordinary at the time.
The consistency of these record-breaking numbers — first the July mid-year record, then the full-year record — was a testament to the sustained and growing enthusiasm for Tommy's candidacy. This wasn't a campaign with an early surge followed by a plateau; it was one that kept building momentum as more Idahoans heard Tommy's message and responded.
Looking Ahead
With the historic 2017 fundraising totals behind them, the Ahlquist campaign entered 2018 with the resources and momentum to mount a serious challenge in the May primary. The campaign had county chairs in all 44 Idaho counties, more than 107 business and community leaders on the team, and a grassroots army of volunteers ready to work.
"These historic levels of support are a direct reflection of Idahoans' desire for a fresh approach and new ideas in the Governor's office," Travis Hawkes said. "We look forward to continuing to build on this momentum in 2018."