Vernon raises $224,000 for Democratic Iowa 1st District campaign

Cedar Rapids City Councilwoman Monica Vernon will report raising more than $224,000 in the fourth quarter of 2013 for her campaign for the Democratic nomination in Iowa's U.S. House 1st District.

That raises her fundraising total to nearly $450,000 since kicking off her campaign for Congress in June.

She also has $260,000 cash on hand.

Vernon will report raising 84 percent of her contributions from Iowans, with over 1,300 individual contributions in 2013, and is the only candidate in the race to raise over $100,000 in each filing period for three consecutive periods.

"Our growing support continues to demonstrate that Iowans in the 1st District want to elect a problem solver, not a career politician," said campaign manager Brenda Kole. " They want someone who will take a new approach, with a proven record of getting things done.”

Since launching her campaign, Vernon has consistently been one of the top fundraisers and was the first to reach out to voters in all 20 counties in the district through a telephone town hall held Jan. 13, taking questions on a wide range of issues and encouraging Democrats to attend the upcoming precinct caucuses.

For more about Vernon, visit www.monicavernonforcongress.com.