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Democrat Luz Robles Sets High Fundraising Goal for 2nd Congressional District Race

Democratic state Senator Luz Robles officially kicked off her campaign for Utah’s 2nd congressional district today at an event at the state capitol.

Democratic Senator Luz Robles of Salt Lake City was all smiles today as she spoke to a crowd of supporters gathered under the rotunda of the state capitol. Their loud cheers echoed through the halls of the otherwise empty building as Robles laid out the reasons why she is challenging current 2nd district congressman Chris Stewart. She says in order for her to make the race competitive she’s going to have to get people out to vote and that doesn’t come cheap. She’s set a fundraising goal of $1 million dollars.

“It’s a big number but the reality is that it costs money to start putting infrastructure like that," she says. "What’s interesting for some groups is our emphasis on voter registration and GOTV. We are about mobilizing communities, a very grassroots campaign, it takes money and it takes effort but it’s going to be at the grassroots level.”

To help meet that goal Robles says she’s already reached out to several national organizations for their support. But Utah Democratic Party Chairman Jim Dabakis says he believes Robles is fully capable of raising $1 million dollars by herself right here in the state of Utah.

“That whole aspect of fundraising and appealing to the business community is something that comes naturally for Luz and I think she’s going to set records for raising money,” he says.

In 2008 Robles became the first Hispanic woman to ever be elected to the Utah State Senate. She also works as the director of Zion’s Bank Business Resource Center.

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