By Brandon Moseley
Alabama Political Reporter
Alabama U.S. Rep. Martha Roby, who is running for re-election in Alabama’s 2nd Congressional District, announced that she has raised $826,000 in 2017, as reported on the campaign’s Federal Election Committee (FEC) year-end report released today.
The numbers in this report position her campaign well for the 2018 election season and put her on pace to raise more than $1 million before the Republican primary.
The Roby campaign team raised $236,000 in the fourth quarter of 2017 alone. Roby enters the election year with $568,000 in cash-on-hand.
“I’m so grateful for the support and encouragement I’ve received in the district and appreciate the opportunity to share our conservative message across AL-02 during this campaign,” Roby said. “Our team is energized, and these solid fundraising numbers give us the resources we need to hit the ground running and have a strong political operation in 2018.”
Roby is seeking her fifth term in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Roby is an attorney and a mother of two. She sits on the powerful House Appropriations Committee.
Roby is a former Montgomery city councilwoman. She was first elected to Congress in 2010, narrowly defeating Congressman Bobby Bright, D-Montgomery, in the election which gave the GOP the majority in the House. Bright was a former Mayor of Montgomery.
Roby faces what could be her most challenging Republican primary to date. Longtime Roy Moore aide Rich Hobson is running against Roby in the Republican Primary. Hobson was the administrative director of the Alabama Court system both times that Moore was Chief Justice. State Rep. Barry Moore, R-Enterprise, is also challenging Roby. Veteran Tommy Amason announced his candidacy in the GOP primary race but has yet to formally qualify. Conservatives are hoping to use Roby’s election year criticism of Donald Trump as a wedge issue in the Republican primary.
Whichever Republican wins the primary will then face Tabitha Isner in the November general election. Democrats are hopefully that they can recapture control of the House of Representatives in this election, thanks to Trump unpopularity.
Major party qualifying does not ends until Feb. 9.
The major party primaries will be on June 5, 2018.
