Pro-Israel group spends $500,000 to target Randy Villegas in Central Valley race
A political action committee working to elect pro-Israel Democrats is pouring $500,000 into television ads to target a progressive challenger in one of California’s most competitive congressional primaries.
The DMFI PAC — the political arm of the Democratic Majority for Israel — reported Friday that the expenditure will be used against California District 22 candidate Randy Villegas, according to filings with the Federal Election Commission. The group, founded in 2019 to counter rising skepticism on the left toward the Jewish state, endorsed Assemblymember Jasmeet Bains for the seat in February.
Both Democrats are vying to unseat Republican Rep. David Valadao, who has represented the majority-Latino, left-leaning district for much of the last decade. District 22, which is one of the most closely watched battleground races in the country, encompasses large parts of Tulare, Porterville, Wasco and Bakersfield.
But before either can take on Valadao, who is widely expected to advance to the general election, they must first navigate an increasingly contentious primary.
The two Democrats have strikingly different pitches.
Bains, who is backed by party leaders and major labor groups, is viewed as the moderate Democrat while Villegas has embraced progressive policy platforms and cultivated more grassroots support. Neither candidate reached the 60% threshold needed to secure the California Democrat Party’s endorsement in February.
The $500,000 spent by the DMFI PAC is an independent expenditure, meaning there are no monetary limits and can’t be associated with a candidate campaign.
The PAC also reported this week it plans to spend a similar amount on television advertising against Ammar Campa-Najjar, a candidate for California’s 48th Congressional District in San Diego, according to the FEC website. The group has spent $1.5 million this year on the 48th District race.
The ads against Villegas will come a few days after the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, the party’s House campaign and fundraising arm, clearly signaled its support for Bains. The move led to criticism, most notably from members of the Congressional Progressive Caucus PAC who argued the DCCC was improperly tipping the scales in favor of Bains. Central Valley political consultants told The Sacramento Bee that the DCCC’s announcement likely reflects Bains’ difficulty breaking away from Villegas, who is a political newcomer.
It is unclear what the TV ads against Villegas will focus on, but they are expected to be broadcast in the Fresno and Bakersfield markets, according to the media tracking firm AdImpact.
The Progressive Promise PAC spent $200,000 in ads opposing Bains this month, according to Capitol Hill Access, a company that tracks data on political contributions and lobbying expenditures.
