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Former Obama Advisor raises over $400,000, posting the strongest opening fundraising quarter of any Democrat running in this closely watched “red-to-blue” race
IRVINE, Calif. — Orange County native and small business owner Brian Forde announced this week that his campaign for Congress in California’s 45th congressional district has raised over $400,000 since its launch on July 19th.
Forde — a Democrat who served as a Senior Advisor in the Obama White House — raised more funds in his first quarter than any Democrat running in California’s 45th congressional district has ever raised in a single quarter. He also raised more in individual contributions in his first quarter than the incumbent, Mimi Walters, raised during the entire 2016 campaign cycle, according to FEC data. The bulk of Rep. Walters’ reported fundraising for the 2018 election has come from special interest PACs.
Forde’s significant fundraising capacity will allow him to run a strong, high profile campaign, and helps solidify his standing as the Democrat best positioned to beat Rep. Walters in 2018.
“I’m both grateful and humbled by the incredible outpouring of support for my campaign,” said Forde. “Seeing so many people place their faith in me makes me more confident than ever that we can run a truly innovative grassroots campaign that is focused on the critical issues impacting our district and our country.”
“To everyone who thinks Congress would be more effective if we elected independent thinkers and problem solvers who place the interests of the American people over entrenched partisan politics, this campaign is for you. We are committed to running a campaign built on ideas, vision, and innovation,” Forde continued.
Brian Forde has spent more than a decade at the nexus of technology, entrepreneurship, and public policy. Raised in Tustin, Calif., Forde developed an interest in technology at an early age, building his first computer by hand and taking advanced technology courses at Irvine Valley College and UC Irvine while still in high school. After graduating from UCLA, Forde served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Nicaragua and co-founded a telecom business that reduced the cost of international calls by 90% for rural Nicaraguans.
Forde went on to serve in the Obama White House as a Senior Advisor for Mobile and Data Innovation, where he worked to prepare American workers for 21st century jobs and apply technology to critical national interests and priorities. After serving more than three years in the Obama administration, Forde joined the MIT Media Lab as Director of the Digital Currency Initiative.
A native of Orange County, Forde lives with his wife, Alison, in the city of Lake Forest.