Republican Congressman’s son donates maximum amount to Democrat running for his father’s seat in Virginia

Bob Goodlatte's son says '2018 is the year to flip districts - let’s do this!'

Mythili Sampathkumar
New York
Monday 15 October 2018 14:59 BST
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Republican House member Bob Goodlatte's son announced he gave the maximum donation allowed to the Democratic candidate running for his father's Congressional seat in Virginia
Republican House member Bob Goodlatte's son announced he gave the maximum donation allowed to the Democratic candidate running for his father's Congressional seat in Virginia

A Republican Congressman’s con has donated the maximum amount allowed to the campaign of the Democrat running for his father’s seat in Virginia in the midterm election.

US Representative Bob Goodlatte, who serves as the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, had said he would not be seeking re-election for his seat.

His son Bobby tweeted: “I just gave the maximum allowed donation to Jennifer Lewis, a democrat running for my father's congressional seat”.

He also said he had asked five others to donate the maximum amount to Ms Lewis’ campaign, adding “2018 is the year to flip districts - let’s do this!”

According to the Federal Election Commission (FEC), which governs US campaign finance rules, individuals are allowed to give up to $2,700 (£2,116) to each candidate for the 2018 election. There is no limit on the total an individual can donate to certain types of political action committees (PACs).

Ms Lewis, whose website the younger Mr Goodlatte included in his tweet, is campaigning on a platform of “Medicare for all,” or universal healthcare, legalising marijuana in the tobacco-heavy state, and instituting a $15 minimum wage.

The mental health professional who primarily serves at-risk youth is also campaigning as a fierce advocate for the environment.

She is taking on Republican state Delegate Ben Cline to represent much of the central-west portion of the state including Roanoke, Lynchburg, and the Shenandoah Valley.

Paul Ryan announces he will not seek re-election in 2018 midterms

According to the think tank Center for Responsive Politics, Ms Lewis has raised $72,679 as of 30 June compared to Mr Cline’s $393,129.

He has also spent more than $300,000 of those funds on his primary and campaign against Ms Lewis. She has spent $34,989.

Ms Lewis has also committed, as several in a new wave of 2018 Democratic candidates, not to accept any money from corporate political committees or those with fossil-fuel interests.

The elder Mr Goodlatte’s decision not to run again came on the heels of the hotly contested Virginia governor race in November 2017, which Democrat Ralph Northam won against Republican Ed Gillespie.

The district has historically been a Republican stronghold, but experts have said Mr Northam’s win could shift the tides.

The House member’s son, according to his Twitter bio, is based in San Francisco and works as a “product designer & angel investor” for several startups.

Other Silicon Valley venture capital leaders praised Mr Goodlatte for his public announcement.

Chris Sacca, an investor who has appeared on ABC's Shark Tank programme during which investors are pitched business ideas, tweeted: “Bobby is a friend and I am so moved by his bravery in standing up for his beliefs”.

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