A political action committee encouraging former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton to run for president is scheduled to hold a fundraising reception in downtown Los Angeles tonight.
Secretary of State Alex Padilla is billed as the special guest for the event benefiting Ready for Hillary. Ticket prices range from $250 to $5,000, according to an invitation obtained by City News Service.
Former Assembly Speakers John A. Perez and Fabian Nunez and Reps. Lucille Roybal-Allard, Loretta Sanchez and Grace F. Napolitano are among the reception’s co-chairs.
Ready for Hillary, formed in 2013, is “an independent effort” and does not coordinate its activities with Clinton, said Seth Bringman, the committee’s communications director.
Its goals include showing Clinton “she will have a grassroots army of supporters behind her” if she runs, Bringman told City News Service.
“As President (Barack) Obama’s campaigns demonstrated in 2008 and 2012, successful presidential efforts are not built overnight,” Bringman said.
Clinton has strongly hinted she will run but has not declared her candidacy. Polling has indicated she has a wide lead in the race for the Democratic nomination.
