Ami Bera Challenger Raises $225,000 for Competitive California Race

Former Rep. Doug Ose, one of three Republicans challenging Rep. Ami Bera, D-Calif., raised more than $225,000 in the first quarter of this year, according to figures provided first to CQ Roll Call.
Ose will report contributing an additional $250,000 of his own personal wealth to his comeback bid in Northern California, according to his campaign. That brings his total cash on hand to more than $415,000. Ose will face Bera and two other Republicans — former Capitol Hill aide Igor Birman and businesswoman Elizabeth Emken — in a top-two primary on June 3. The two highest vote recipients, regardless of party, will advance to the general election in November.
The other candidates haven’t reported their first-quarter hauls, which are due to the Federal Election Commission by April 15. But at of the end of 2013, Bera had nearly $1.2 million in the bank, Birman had $124,000 in cash on hand, and Emken reported $306,000.
Ose’s campaign went up on air last week with the first ad of the cycle in this race.
California’s 7th District is rated a Leans Democratic contest by Rothenberg Political Report/Roll Call.
Correction, April 16 6:50 a.m.
An earlier version of this post misstated the amount Ose raised.