Castro raises $1.1M in first quarter for presidential bid

Former Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Julián Castro raised $1.1 million for his presidential bid in the first quarter of 2019, putting him in the bottom tier of fundraising for Democratic contenders.

However, the Castro campaign said it is starting off strong in the second quarter, raising about half of its first quarter total, or $572,000, in the first 15 days of April alone.

“We’re just getting started and are rapidly building momentum,” said Maya Rupert, Castro’s campaign manager. “We met our internal goals for the first quarter, and in the first two weeks of April have smashed our fundraising goal for the month.”

Castro is fighting to meet the Democratic National Committee’s threshold to qualify for the Democratic presidential debate.

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Candidates must reach 1 percent in three separate national or early voting state polls or receive donations from 65,000 people in at least 20 states.

Castro’s campaign says the $2 million it has raised since launching an exploratory committee late last year has come from 50,000 individual donors.

An Emerson Polling survey released on Monday found Castro polling at 3 percent support nationally, although most other recent polls have him at 1 percent support.

Candidates have until midnight tonight to file their first quarter fundraising totals with the Federal Election Commission.

Vermont Sen. Bernie SandersBernie SandersThe Hill’s 12:30 Report: Milley apologizes for church photo-op Harris grapples with defund the police movement amid veep talk Biden courts younger voters — who have been a weakness MORE (I) leads the way, raising $18.2 million in only 41 days of first-quarter fundraising. Former Rep. Beto O’Rourke (D-Texas) raised $9.4 million in 18 days of campaigning in the first quarter, followed by South Bend, Ind. Mayor Pete ButtigiegPete ButtigiegScaled-back Pride Month poses challenges for fundraising, outreach Biden hopes to pick VP by Aug. 1 It’s as if a Trump operative infiltrated the Democratic primary process MORE at $7 million, Sen. Elizabeth WarrenElizabeth WarrenWarren, Democrats urge Trump to back down from veto threat over changing Confederate-named bases OVERNIGHT DEFENSE: Joint Chiefs chairman says he regrets participating in Trump photo-op | GOP senators back Joint Chiefs chairman who voiced regret over Trump photo-op | Senate panel approves 0B defense policy bill Trump on collision course with Congress over bases with Confederate names MORE (D-Mass) at $6 million and Sen. Amy KlobucharAmy KlobucharHillicon Valley: Biden calls on Facebook to change political speech rules | Dems demand hearings after Georgia election chaos | Microsoft stops selling facial recognition tech to police Democrats demand Republican leaders examine election challenges after Georgia voting chaos Harris grapples with defund the police movement amid veep talk MORE (D-Minn.) at $5.2 million.