The Congressional Baseball Game raised over $1.5 million for its charity beneficiaries and sold nearly 25,000 tickets, both of which are new records for the game.
Interest in the game surged after House Majority Whip Steve Scalise (R-LA), and several others were shot and injured by James T. Hodgkinson, a disgruntled former Bernie Sanders campaign volunteer who hated President Donald Trump, Republicans, and the current tax system, while at team practice for the game in Alexandria. In an inspiring swill of bipartisanship, tickets began selling at a rapid pace, and the Washington Nationals even opened up more seating at the field to meet the increased demand. The game was also broadcast nationally on C-SPAN.
The game raised $1.5 million and 24,959 tickets were sold, according to a press release from the organizers. Spokesperson Meredith Raimondi told CNN that the 2016 game raised around $500,000 and sold about 10,000 tickets.
A portion of the funds raised this year will support the individuals who were injured in the attack and the officers who responded at the scene.
The money raised will also go to three Washington-based charities that the Congressional Baseball Game has supported in past years: The Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Washington, The Washington Nationals Dream Foundation and The Washington Literacy Center.
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Scalise and lobbyist Matt Mika remain hospitalized, but both are improving. Scalise was transported to the hospital and was "very near death" upon arrival. Mika, a former Hill employee, was assisting at the practice. He was shot numerous times in the chest and arm.
The assailant, Hodgkinson, was shot dead by members of Scalise's security detail.
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