By the time Rep. Kesha Ram (D-Burlington) filed her first campaign finance report two weeks ago, the lieutenant gubernatorial candidate had already raised more than $34,000 from out-of-state donors — roughly a third of her total haul. Nearly $13,000 of that came from California, largely from her home town of Santa Monica. 

She has since flown to Los Angeles and San Francisco for fundraisers in those two cities.

Tonight, Ram will be at it again — passing the hat at The Sheppard, a Washington, D.C., speakeasy just south of Dupont Circle.

"I am taking my message of what Vermont does best and what makes us unique and why I would be the best lieutenant governor for Vermont to other parts of the country to help raise the support from those who love Vermont, who are from Vermont, who feel touched by what we accomplish in Vermont," Ram explains, name-dropping her state no fewer than five times. 

Tonight's fundraiser, which costs between $100 and $2,500 to attend, is scheduled after Ram takes part in a panel discussion at the nearby Indian Embassy titled, "The Evolving Role of Indian Americans in U.S. Politics." Ram's father emigrated from India. 

Cohosts of the fundraiser include Beekman Advisors managing partner Shekar Narasimhan, Gill Foundation vice president Gautam Raghavan, Nelson Mullins lobbyist Vinoda Basnayake, BowerGroupAsia senior director Persis Khambatta, Greenpeace chief engagement officer Arshad Hasan and Congressman Ami Bera (D-Calif.). Ram describes her hosts as "businesspeople in D.C. who care about our message and want to support Asian Americans."

In addition to her California and D.C. fundraisers, Ram says she raised money last month in New York City. 

Ram's Democratic opponent for lieutenant governor, Sen. David Zuckerman (P/D-Chittenden), has raised $15,697 from out-of-staters. Republican Randy Brock has collected $9,380 from non-Vermonters and independent Louis Meyers has received $625.