Venture capitalist Blake Masters has significantly outpaced his competitors in fundraising for the Arizona 8th Congressional District seat. His campaign announced on Thursday that Masters has raised over $1.3 million within just two months of declaring his candidacy, with more than $1 million currently available for campaign use.
The amount surpasses funds raised by any other Republican candidate in the primary.
“I am honored by the support and trust placed in me by so many great people, including many supporters from my run for Senate as well as new donors who want to see more strong conservatives in Washington,” Masters stated in an interview with Fox News Digital.
“In Congress, I will block and reverse Biden’s harmful policies, back President Trump’s America First agenda 100%, and fight to make sure that Arizona is and remains the best place in the world to live, work, and raise a family. The trust placed in me by so many gives us over $1M to spread this message and earn the GOP nomination,” he said.
🚨NEW: We are incredibly excited to announce that @bgmasters raised over $1.3 million in the two months since announcing his campaign for Congress in AZ's 8th Congressional District.
The patriots of CD-8 are ready to send an America First fighter to DC.https://t.co/dNgJMTlvns
— Blake Masters War Room (@MastersPress) January 25, 2024
Masters gained prominence as the co-author of “Zero to One” with Peter Thiel, a well-known entrepreneur and investor. He has also worked closely with Thiel in various capacities, including as President of the Thiel Foundation and Chief Operating Officer at Thiel Capital.
In the political arena, Masters has been known for his conservative views and has been involved in Republican politics. He made headlines for his involvement in political campaigns and has been a significant figure in conservative circles, particularly in relation to technology and innovation policy
The numbers certainly don't lie.
It's @bgmasters szn in Arizona CD-8.
— Blake Masters War Room (@MastersPress) January 25, 2024
Masters, known for his conservative stance and alignment with many of Trump’s policies, sought and received an endorsement from Trump for his political ambitions in 2022. The endorsement played a significant role in his political career, especially considering Trump’s influential status within the Republican Party. For Masters the endorsement helped in garnering support from the Republican base, which has tended to be loyal to Trump.
In October of 2023, Masters declared his intent to run for Congress. “Biden has failed. We need Trump back.” Among the issues highlighted in his campaign announcement were the need to curb inflation, bolster border security through building a wall, averting international conflict, and ensuring Arizona’s water rights remain protected.
“We need new leaders. People who haven’t spent their lives in politics. That’s why I’m running for Congress, to fight for Arizona’s aid. Because we can control our borders,” Masters said last year. “We can build an economy that actually works for the middle class.”
Fox News reported:
Masters first gained national name recognition after coming out on top in a contentious primary race for Senate in 2022. He ultimately lost that race to Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., and was reportedly considering running for Senate again in 2024 before deciding to run for Congress instead.
Elections analysts view Arizona’s 8th Congressional District, which encompasses a chunk of the northern Phoenix suburbs, as a safe Republican seat. It’s currently represented by Republican Rep. Debbie Lesko, who announced last year she would not seek re-election.
Masters faces a crowded primary field that includes former Rep. Trent Franks, who previously represented Arizona’s 2nd and 8th Congressional Districts for a combined seven terms, state Sen. Anthony Kern, state Rep. Ben Toma, and former Maricopa County prosecutor Abraham Hamadeh.