A Well-Connected Veteran’s Congressional Campaign Is Fueled by Out-of-State Donors
Maggie Goodlander, a military veteran with strong ties to Washington, is running for a congressional seat in New Hampshire. Her campaign has gained significant financial support, raising over $1.5 million in just two months. However, an analysis of campaign finance reports by The Intercept reveals that almost all of these funds came from individual donors outside of New Hampshire. In fact, 88% of the individual contributions were from out-of-state donors.
The majority of outside spending in New Hampshire’s 2nd Congressional District has come from the Principled Veterans Fund, a super PAC with connections to billionaires Jeff Bezos and Michael Bloomberg. This super PAC, which focuses on supporting veterans, has spent more than $150,000 on pro-Goodlander advertisements. It is worth noting that Bezos had initially invested millions in this PAC when it was established in 2018.
Goodlander is running in an open Democratic primary against Colin Van Ostern, a well-known figure in New Hampshire politics who has been endorsed by the departing Democratic Representative Annie Kuster. Van Ostern’s campaign has raised $719,000 in the most recent fundraising quarter, with 63% of individual contributions coming from within the state. The election is scheduled for September 10.
Goodlander’s individual donors include employees from prominent companies such as Meta, Palantir, Blackstone, and various corporate law firms. Notable figures like Colorado Senator Michael Bennet, Biden adviser Gene Sperling, and White House staffers have also contributed to her campaign. Additionally, Goodlander has received contributions from various PACs, including those associated with New York Representative Dan Goldman, Colorado Representative Jason Crow, Tennessee Representative Steve Cohen, and Connecticut Senator Richard Blumenthal.
Robert Maguire, the research director at Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW), commented on the significant amount of out-of-state contributions received by Goodlander. He noted that while it is not uncommon for candidates to receive such donations, the median amount for House incumbents running for reelection is around 42%. Goodlander’s rate is more than double that, which is particularly noteworthy considering she is a first-time candidate.
Goodlander’s campaign has not responded to requests for comment regarding the out-of-state funding. However, her extensive background and connections have undoubtedly played a role in her campaign’s success. She is a graduate of Yale College and Yale Law School, served 11 years as an intelligence officer in the U.S. Navy Reserve, and advised former Senators John McCain and Joe Lieberman. She has also worked as a clerk for Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer and Chief Judge Merrick Garland. In addition, she served as counsel to the House Judiciary Committee during the first impeachment of former President Donald Trump and held the position of deputy assistant attorney general in the Biden administration’s antitrust division.
Goodlander’s family also has a strong political background, with both her grandfather and mother being involved in Republican politics. She is married to national security adviser Jake Sullivan, and their wedding was officiated by Hillary Clinton, whom Sullivan advised during her presidential campaign.
The combination of Goodlander’s experience, connections, and financial support has been instrumental in her campaign’s success. Since launching her campaign in May, she has raised $1.56 million in the fundraising quarter from April 1 to June 30. The average donation to her campaign was $801, significantly higher than the average donation of $302 to Van Ostern’s campaign during the same period. However, only 12% of Goodlander’s donations, amounting to $185,305, came from within the state.
One notable contribution to Goodlander’s campaign came from the With Honor PAC, which works alongside the bipartisan For Country Caucus. This caucus consists of 30 veterans serving in the U.S. House of Representatives who have committed to the With Honor pledge of serving with integrity, civility, and the courage to work across party lines. However, it is worth mentioning that the caucus includes members like Florida Republican Representative Brian Mast, who has made controversial statements comparing Palestinian civilians to Nazis.
The With Honor PAC has received substantial funding from Bezos’s parents, with $12 million contributed since 2017. Bezos himself donated $10 million to the super PAC in 2018, while Bloomberg contributed a combined $750,000 in 2018 and 2020.
The Principled Veterans Fund, which has spent $154,000 supporting Goodlander, received significant funding from the With Honor Fund before shutting down in 2023. This fund transferred nearly $5.9 million to With Honor Fund II, which then transferred $5.83 million to two separate super PACs: the Principled Veterans Fund and the Elect Principled Veterans Fund. Bloomberg was the only other major donor to the Principled Veterans Fund, contributing an additional $750,000 in 2022.
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