3 of the top 20 most expensive House races for the Dems have been in California in 2024
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New campaign ad spending data that was paid out by U.S. House campaigns between September 11th and October 10th was released on Monday, showing many record-setting amounts being spent on races across California by both Democrats and Republicans.
Since the primary election in March, both parties have been steadily increasing spending in key swing districts in California. These have included the San Joaquin Valley 13th and 22nd districts, the LA County 27th district, the Inland Empire 41st District, the Orange County 45th and 47th Districts, and most recently, the San Diego County 49th district. All of those races have candidates within a few points of each other according to the most recent polls, with undecided voters representing the percentage that tips the balance in each race. As such, fundraising and spending have been high.
For example, candidates have had fundraising quarters go into the multi-millions before party funds are added in. In the 13th district, Congressman John Duarte (R-CA) and his challenger, former Congressman Adam Gray (D) raised over $3 million and $2.6 million respectively during Q2 2024, with both expected to report in way more in Q3. Congressman David Valadao (R-CA) and former Assemblyman Rudy Salas (D) in the 22nd had even more come in with $3.4 million and $3.1 million respectively in Q2, with both spending around $1.5 million each. And even more is the 27th District whose 2024 Q2 fundraising came out to $5.8 million for Democrat George Whitesides and $4.3 million for Congressman Mike Garcia (R-CA), with spending each around $2 million.
Down south, in the L.A. market, it somehow got even higher. $5.7 million for Congressman Ken Calvert (R-CA) and a whopping $7 million for his challenger Will Rollins, with both spending $2.2 million. The open seat race in the 47th was also high, with Senator Dave Min (D-Orange County) bringing in $3.6 million and Republican Scott Baugh getting $2.9 million.
But that is all Q2 data. More recent data shows even crazier totals. Labor Day weekend alone had $148 million worth of ads (which includes all races) being spent on in California, one of the highest in the nation. The late-season sudden competitiveness of the 49th District and Congressman Mike Levin (D-CA) suddenly being vulnerable led the national party to suddenly throw in $1.56 million all at once for ads alone. And on Monday, new data by Adimpact, which only shows ad spending between the month of September 11th and October 10th, showed record-setting figures. For the 13th district, Democrats spent $7.1 million on ads for Gray, with the GOP spending $3.8 million on Duarte. For the Democrats, it was the 5th most expensive District being spent on in the entire country.
Republican candidates should understand that OUR votes should never be taken for granted. I know several Republicans who will SKIP the races for Steve Garvey, Scott Baugh, Young Kim and/or Michelle Steel because they weren’t at the Trump rally.
Stupid is as stupid does.
These are also the types that will not help get candidates to run for office and leave empty non-contested seats for the Dem’s.
Too bad…….but then again they will be the first to complain.