(Des Moines, IA) Iowa agriculture advocate Monte Shaw, in his first campaign for public office, has announced that his campaign raised $203,696.34 for the first quarter of the Third District race for Congress. The campaign spent only $35,250.70 and has $168,445.64 on hand for the Primary election, and unlike many other campaigns, has no debt or personal loans to the campaign. Shaw’s impressive support comes despite entering the race nearly five weeks into the fundraising period.
The display of fundraising strength comes on the heels of Shaw showing the most organizational muscle when his campaign submitted more than 3,000 nominating signatures, the most announced signatures of any Republican candidate in the Third District race. Shaw has also garnered key endorsements from legislative, agriculture, finance, and party leaders.
“From my first day in this race, I have said that we need a conservative candidate that can unite the party and win in November,” Shaw said. “Today’s announcement proves that I am that candidate. I am proud to have earned the support of grassroots activists throughout the district in recent weeks while winning endorsements from key legislative, agriculture, finance, and party leaders from across the Third District. The support of people from across the district combined with my unique experience and values ensures that we have what it takes to win this important district in November.”
Shaw’s announcement drew praise from his finance chair, Matt Strawn, the former Chairman of the Republican Party of Iowa.
“Today’s announcement demonstrates what I have believed for months: Monte Shaw is the candidate uniquely qualified to garner the support of Republican voters in June and win the support of independents and disenchanted Democrats in November,” Strawn said. “Since joining his team as Finance Chair, I have been overwhelmed by the outpouring of support for Monte from people throughout the Third District.”
In addition to Strawn, Shaw has built the strongest team in the Third District race, including Iowa political veterans John Maxwell and Steve Grubbs, an agriculture team with decades of Iowa agriculture experience, and a finance team including Strawn, Earl May Seed and Nursery CEO Bill Shaw, and banker Mick Guttau. Shaw has also garnered the two biggest endorsements of the race so far. Former Congressman Greg Ganske has joined with Jon King, Congressman Steve King’s brother, to co-chair the Shaw campaign. Shaw also recently announced the support of the “Iowa Boy” Chuck Offenburger, a well-known and longtime Des Moines Register columnist and blogger.
Shaw is Executive Director of the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association and a former member of the Republican Party of Iowa State Central Committee. He has managed a number of Iowa political campaigns, including Grassley for U.S. Senate and Elizabeth Dole for President. He also served as deputy national press secretary on the Steve Forbes presidential campaign in 2000 and as communications director for DC-based Renewable Fuels Association. Shaw, who grew up on a farm in Shenandoah, currently resides in West Des Moines with his wife, Tina, and their two children, Eden and Max.