Freedom to Marry announced on Monday
that it had reached its $3 million goal to fund gay marriage
campaigns in 5 critical states.
The group announced its Win More States
Fund in March with the goal of funding campaigns in battleground
marriage states Maine, Minnesota, Washington, New Jersey and New
Hampshire.
The need for a campaign in New
Hampshire ended after the House killed a proposed ballot initiative
seeking to repeal the state's gay marriage law.
In New Jersey, the group hopes to push
for the Legislature to override Governor Chris Christie's veto of a
marriage bill.
Voters in Washington will vote in
November to either uphold or reject a marriage measure earlier
approved by lawmakers. Minnesota voters will decide on a whether to
ban gay couples from marrying through a constitutional amendment,
while a Maine referendum is the first to ask voters to approve a gay
marriage law.
The group said it had reached its goal
more than two months earlier than originally projected and that more
than $1 million was raised from Republican donors, including Paul
Singer, the founder of hedge firm Elliot Management.
“Early and strategic support shows
that our movement has evolved into a sophisticated campaign equipped
to win at the ballot box in November,” said Evan Wolfson, founder
and president of Freedom to Marry. “In an election season where
candidate campaigns and Super PACs are snapping up television
airtime, Freedom to Marry is especially pleased to be able to provide
crucial early funding to support TV buys and other ways of making the
case for the freedom to marry. We will continue to raise dollars and
channel them into campaigns to ensure we get family stories in front
of the voters and make the most personal and powerful case for why
marriage matters.”
(Related: Paul
Singer, Lloyd Blankfein talk gay rights at Wall Street summit.)