Candidates outline fundraising totals and argue grassroots strategy at Haywood County forum
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Summary
Candidates disclosed disparate fundraising totals and debated whether grassroots small-dollar donations or larger-scale fundraising are decisive for defeating Rep. Chuck Edwards in November.
Moderator Corey Valancourt asked each candidate how much they had raised and how they planned to fund a general-election effort to unseat Rep. Chuck Edwards.
Zelda Briarwood said her campaign has raised about $50,000 in small donations and emphasized refusing corporate or PAC money: "I refuse to take any money from any corporations... I refuse to take any money from lobbyists," she said. Leigh Whipple said he had not raised funds yet but asked supporters to give via ActBlue.
Paul Maddox reported having raised $98,000. Jamie Ager said his campaign had raised close to $900,000, described the support as widespread across the region and emphasized he is not taking corporate money. Richard Hudspeth said his campaign had raised about $150,000 in small contributions.
Candidates made competing arguments about the role of money: Briarwood argued how funds are spent matters as much as the total, while Ager and Hudspeth said sizable war chests are required to beat the incumbent. The discussion framed fundraising as both a practical necessity and a test of campaign independence from special interest money.