The campaign for Eric Jones for Congress announced Friday that it has raised nearly $3.3 million since launching, claiming that every dollar came from individual donors and no contributions from corporate PACs.
Jones also said he did not contribute any personal funds to the campaign this quarter, a sign, the campaign said, of continued grassroots support and donor enthusiasm.
According to the campaign, Jones outraised incumbent Rep. Mike Thompson in donations from individual contributors during the latest reporting period. While Thompson continues to rely on corporate PAC money and outside groups, Jones has centered his campaign on rejecting corporate PAC influence and special-interest funding.
In total, Jones raised $658,000 from individual donors during the first three months of the calendar year.
“This campaign is being built the right way by people who want a representative who understands their lives and will fight for them,” said Brian Parvizshari, campaign manager for Jones for Congress. “We’re proving that you don’t need corporate PAC money or special interests to build a winning campaign. You just need to earn the trust of the people you’re asking to serve.”
The latest fundraising numbers, the campaign said, reflect continued momentum behind Jones’ platform focused on affordability, accountability and support for working families.
The campaign said it will continue rejecting contributions from corporate PACs, federal lobbyists and special interests.
With nearly $3.3 million raised to date, the Jones campaign said it is positioned to expand grassroots organizing, voter outreach and communications efforts throughout California’s 4th Congressional District.
Jones said his campaign remains focused on issues including the rising cost of living, housing access, economic opportunity and restoring trust in government.
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Yeah, I just got a fifth mailer from Empty Suit Eric. This one was about how Empty Suit Eric was going to take on high utility bills from PG&E. Funny thing is Empty Suit doesn’t say how a first year member of Congress, a national position, will address this state issue.
So here is the thing, Empty Suit Eric has no plans to address PG&E, or at least he didn’t address how in the mailer. What I’m sure is going on is that his advertising handlers (AKA campaign consultants) see this as an issue that polls well despite it not having anything to do with national legislative work. So why not run on it. Empty Suit Eric’s Campaign tells us nothing about what this oligarch believes. His campaign is being driven by what polls well whether or not it has anything to do with the job of representing the people of this community in Congress.
With $3.3 million raised to date, from the personal checkbooks of a loose association of oligarchs to the tune of $7000 each, I expect to get at least 12 more mailers at a rate of 2 per week through election day in June from Empty Suit Eric.
I seem to recall someone knocking on my door not too long ago seeking signatures to get this candidate on the ballot (without having to pay the usual filing fees). In any case, I guess he has enough money, now.
I have no idea what this candidate really stands for, his background regarding how it relates to a Congressional seat, or why he’s running – but I don’t think he has much of a chance, regardless. (I don’t believe he has ever held any other elected office.) Apparently, he emphasizes that he’s a “family man” (which isn’t going to resonate with me very much, either way).
But what I really recall regarding the person seeking signatures is the question he asked me, in regard to a whole bunch of issues lumped-together into a single question. Basically a “kitchen sink” type of question, seeking my response (which presumably matched this candidate’s broad, undefined platform). I responded to the signature-seeker by saying that those weren’t “yes” or “no” questions, and I ended up not signing the petition. Also, I’m not sure that I even support some of the questions designed to make me “agree”. Honestly, I’m surprised that I wasn’t asked if I wanted to see puppies stop being beaten, in that kitchen sink question.
I’d hate to think that some young voters might support him solely because he’s younger than the other guy and has a better appearance, etc.
We have alternatives and voters are ready for the outsiders that don’t have a line of credit with the old-guard money pots, PACs, foreign interests (like AIPAC), the insurance industry, pharmaceutical industry or big oil.
In our District Eric Jones in running for congress to fight for all residents of this district. Eric Jones is a self-made 35-year-old from Maine, whose mother faced challenges of low wages and a disabled war veteran husband to see her sons, the elder joining the army, and Eric, whose good fortunes never stopped once given financial aid to attend Yale.
Eric Jones is unafraid to “tax the rich”. His campaign is powered by a wide spectrum of voters tiered of giving donor-class Democrats their future. Eric is fighting to end corruption and make government accountable. He is fighting to provide housing, universal childcare, affordable healthcare, and strong protections for workers and veterans. We have an alternative to the status quo and we should take it. Or pay for oligarchs and forever wars forever.
LOL Dude, Eric Jones is an oligarch. His campaign is funded by the oligarchs and you have no idea what he will do if elected because he has no public record at all. He is an empty suit that you want to buy because you are willing to project your own political aspirations onto him.
His campaign is being duplicated by a candidate for Swallwell’s seat who has the same campaign manager. Huge fundraising out of the gate from the same oligarchs while refusing corporate Pac money. Of course that candidate and your politics are like oil and water. Check out Rakhi Irani if you don’t believe me. But hey, as PT Barnum said, “There’s a sucker born every minute.”
What is his position on the California Forever development proposal in Solano County?
Excellent question, Don. (And makes me wonder more about the circumstances leading to this individual’s campaign.)
His answer on California Forever will be whatever he thinks will aid his campaign. But, just like his mailer attacking PG&E, as a member of Congress he will have little to do with either PG&E or California Forever. His campaign positions are completely poll driven.
“as a member of Congress he will have little to do with either PG&E or California Forever. ”
It’s in the 4th Congressional District and will have significant impacts on the military base, on local transportation, on local water supplies, on shipping and construction trades in the region. He will have more than a “little to do” with this proposal and his views on it need to be clear and unambiguous.
Okay, but how do you know that he means anything he says. He has no voting record on anything.
I just want to get him on record on the topic. Garamendi and Thompson have pushed back hard on this proposal. As I said, we need a clear statement of his position.
Jones’s platform explicitly includes a plan for “Taking on Big Tech & AI”and he has signed the Political Integrity Pledge (no stock trades while in congress).
Super PACs are legally required to be independent, meaning Eric Jone’s campaign cannot control who sets them up or who donates to them. Because Jones cannot legally tell a Super PAC to stop spending money on his behalf.
Super PACs independently supporting Mike Thompson include the House Democratic Leadership (the folks who led the shut down cave-in that pushed 15 million people off healthcare) . This Super PAC is fueled primarily by Wall Street hedge funds, and ultra-wealthy Silicon Valley mega-donors and Hollywood executives.
Thompson embraces millions from industries directly tied to his legislative power on the tax-writing Ways and Means Committee: The wine, agriculture, pharmaceutical, hospital associations, and health insurance PACs as well as PG& and Defense and Tech Contractors.
Scott: “Jones’s platform explicitly includes a plan for ‘Taking on Big Tech & AI’.”
Per his website:
“America’s approach to AI should be fundamental and include the following:
…
A strong federal framework that preempts conflicting state laws, ….
California, Texas, Colorado, Illinois, and others are moving ahead with their own rules. Without federal action, companies will spend the next decade navigating a fragmented compliance maze that slows innovation without meaningfully improving safety.”
Eric Jones believes that California should not be able to regulate AI more strictly than the federal government.
Scott: “Because Jones cannot legally tell a Super PAC to stop spending money on his behalf.”
Eric Jones can publicly disavow their actions and can, of course, tell them anything he wants to tell them. What they do is their business. But the notion that he “cannot legally tell” them anything is not true.
LOL dude are you that dumb that you actually believe Empty Suit Eric Jones would do anything to hurt his old employers investment in Open AI? You know the ones at Dragoneer where he worked who are now pouring millions into an independent expenditure campaign trying to buy a Congressional seat for their boy Empty Eric. Okay I get it at least he doesn’t take Pac money.