Arizona Candidates Flock to Elite Enclaves for Campaign Cash
Arizona politicians are increasingly turning to exclusive locales – Nantucket Island and Mar-a-Lago – to bolster their campaign coffers, highlighting the growing expense of even state-level elections.
The pursuit of high-dollar donations has led candidates from both parties to seek out wealthy donors in these enclaves, raising questions about access and influence. Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs recently held a fundraiser on Nantucket Island, where a “suggested contribution” of $5,000 was requested for those seeking host status, reflecting the different rules governing state races. After Senator ruben Gallego was also hosted on Nantucket, with a “suggested contribution” of $7,000 for those seeking host status, reflecting the different rules governing federal races. But the island’s appeal isn’t limited to Democrats.Vice President J.D. Vance reportedly raised $3 million on Nantucket in July for the Republican National Committee, with event tickets costing up to $250,000 per couple.
Nantucket, a small island with fewer than 9,700 housing units, has long been a popular destination for political fundraising.However,a new hotspot has emerged,particularly for Republicans: Mar-a-Lago,the Palm Beach resort owned by former President Donald Trump. Kari Lake,a prominent Arizona Republican,utilized the space at least twice – in 2021 during her gubernatorial run and again in 2024 as she seeks a Senate seat – reportedly raising $1 million from the latter event. Karin Taylor Robson, another Republican hopeful for governor, also held a fundraiser at Mar-a-Lago earlier this year.
The exact amounts raised at these out-of-state events remain largely undisclosed. “The campaign does not comment on fundraisers,” stated a spokesperson for the Hobbs campaign, even declining to confirm the Nantucket event despite a copy of the invitation being available. Similar silence surrounds fundraising figures from the Gallego and Robson campaigns.
The increasing reliance on large-dollar donors reflects a broader trend of escalating campaign costs. Governor Hobbs, for example, raised over $15 million during her 2022 gubernatorial race, a figure matched by her opponent, Kari Lake. As of the end of June, Hobbs reported a cash balance of nearly $4.7 million, more than a year before the 2026 election.
However, the fundraising landscape isn’t uniform. Robson had approximately $876,000 on hand at the end of June,but had already spent $2.6 million, including $2.2 million of her own funds, due to a contested primary. Her primary opponent, Andy Biggs, reported $437,000 in available cash.
While campaign finance disclosures will eventually reveal the sources of these donations, the process is often opaque. It can be tough to distinguish between direct contributions and funds raised through organized events. Even the disclosed donor addresses can be misleading, as demonstrated by Ambassador Elizabeth bagley, a host for the Hobbs Nantucket fundraiser, who lists both a Nantucket address and a Washington, D.C. address on federal campaign finance reports.
The appeal of Nantucket lies in its concentration of wealth. The average household income on the island exceeds $182,000 per year, and onyl 342 residents live below the federal poverty level. The average home price is $4.88 million, according to Fisher Real Estate Nantucket. Bagley, a long-time Democratic fundraiser, has previously supported the presidential campaigns of Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, and Kamala Harris, and even hosted a fundraiser for Clinton in 2016.
Ian Simmons, a member of the family that founded montgomery Ward, also served on the host committees for both the Hobbs and Gallego fundraisers. Arizona Senator Mark Kelly also visited Nantucket in 2022 with his wife, former Congresswoman Gabby giffords, soliciting donations starting at $1,000 and reaching $11,600.
Republicans have also tapped into Nantucket’s wealth. In 2012, Mitt Romney raised over $7 million at a single fundraiser on the island, while Donald Trump held a 2016 fundraiser where couples donating or raising $500,000 were listed as co-chairs.Vice President Mike pence held a $25,000-a-ticket fundraiser on Nantucket in 2020.
The growing trend of candidates seeking donations in exclusive locations underscores the increasing financial demands of modern political campaigns and raises questions about the influence of wealthy donors on the political process.
