Rep. Ami Bera will announce that his campaign has raised more than $420,000 in the second quarter, bringing his cash on hand to about $685,000.
Bera, D-Elk Grove, has yet to draw an opponent as he seeks a third House term next year. While much of the criticism of Bera this year has come from organized labor for his position on controversial trade authority, former GOP Rep. Doug Ose, who lost a close and expensive race last fall, has not ruled out another challenge.
Bera’s midyear fundraising haul puts him “significantly ahead” of where he stood at this point during the last election cycle, his campaign said, setting him up to again bring in more than $4 million ahead of the 2016 election.
In 2014, the candidates and outside groups combined to spend more than $24 million, including about $10.3 million from the candidates, by those measures making it the most expensive House race in the country. The next most competitive California race, in which Rep. Scott Peters, D-La Jolla, retained his seat, drew about $16.6 million in total spending.
In a statement, Bera thanked his supporters “for their faith in me,” and issued a “promise to continue to fight for them in Washington and to put them ahead of politics.”
Christopher Cadelago: 916-326-5538, @ccadelago
Comments