DNC chair’s opponent raises $250K after Sanders endorsement

Tim Canova’s congressional campaign announced on Monday it has raised more than $250,000 since Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders endorsed Canova, who is challenging Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.) in Florida’s Democratic primary.

“Like Bernie, we are running a campaign that is funded by working Americans, not corporations or wealthy elites. I am proud to have his endorsement and support in our campaign,” Canova said in a statement.

{mosads}“Together, we are building a coalition of nurses, teachers, students, seniors, and more who overwhelmingly believe that our political and economic systems are rigged in favor of the billionaire class and establishment politicians like Wasserman Schultz.”

Sanders over the weekend said he was giving his support Canova, who will face Wasserman Schultz in the August primary for Florida’s 23rd Congressional District. He also said if elected president, he would effectively terminate Wasserman Schultz as chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee.

On Sunday, Sanders began fundraising for Canova, noting he is supporting the candidate “because it is too late for establishment politics and establishment economics.” In an email, Sanders campaign manager Jeff Weaver asked the candidate’s supporters to split a donation between Sanders’s presidential campaign and the effort to elect Canova.

Canova’s campaign announced Monday that more than $225,000 was raised from the fundraising email sent by Sanders campaign. Another $65,000 was raised in small dollar contributions since Sunday morning. The average campaign contribution has been $17.63.

Since January, the campaign received more than 5,886 individual donations from Floridians, Canova’s campaign said.

“This election is about the future of the Democratic Party and this country. It’s a question of whether or not we stand behind our progressive values and fight to make sure working Americans have a fair shot in this economy,” Canova said in a statement.

“That’s why we have many supporters who support both Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton — because our opponent’s failed leadership is a disappointment to all Democrats.”