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Obama Donors Boost Honda Primary Opponent in California (Updated)

Honda, left, has a Democratic challenger in 2014. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call File Photo)
Honda, left, has a Democratic challenger in 2014. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

Updated 2:01 p.m. | Attorney Ro Khanna, a Democrat challenging longtime Rep. Michael M. Honda, D-Calif., raised $504,000 in the third quarter, bringing his total cash on hand to $1.9 million, his campaign announced Tuesday.

It’s another impressive fundraising haul for Khanna, who brought in $1 million last quarter for the 17th District race. He’s raised $2.8 million total since entering the contest in this Northern California district, according to his campaign.

A number of top givers to Khanna’s campaign this quarter are major donors to President Barack Obama, including Sandi Thompson and Andy Spahn, who were listed as top donors and fundraisers for the president’s campaign in 2012. Khanna also counts Alison Pincus — who hosted a fundraiser for the Democratic Party with first lady Michelle Obama just this week — among his top donors.

Obama endorsed Honda in January when Khanna was still mulling a primary challenge. However, many of the president’s former top campaign aides are working with Khanna.

Honda also released his fundraising numbers on Tuesday, and will report raising more than $385,000 this quarter, according to his campaign. Honda’s haul is $40,000 more than what he raised from April 1 to June 30.

Honda’s campaign is also touting 1,100 individual contributions, half of which were $100 or less. The campaign took shots at Khanna’s fundraising, saying Khanna is “is dependent on money from people who can afford to write max-out checks.”

California’s 17th District is rated a Safe Democratic contest by Rothenberg Political Report/Roll Call.

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