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Rohrabacher Opponents Dig Deep to Fund Campaigns

All outraised Rohrabacher in the last fundraising quarter, but much came from their own pockets

Rep. Dana Rohrabacher, R-Calif., raised less than many of his opponents but many of them relied on personal loans. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call)
Rep. Dana Rohrabacher, R-Calif., raised less than many of his opponents but many of them relied on personal loans. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call)

Republican Rep. Dana Rohrabacher was outraised by his challengers in  his re-election bid for a second consecutive quarter, but much of that came from their own pockets.

An analysis by the Los Angeles Times found that Rohrabacher raised $271,969 in the fourth quarter of 2017 and has $713,144 in cash on hand.

Democrat Harley Rouda posted the largest numbers, raising $626,254 in the fourth quarter with $833,687.51 in cash on hand. But $500,000 of that came in the form of a personal loan. 

In the previous quarter, Rouda lent himself $175,000, making the total amount $675,000, according to his Federal Election Commission reports.

Similarly, Omar Siddiqui, a self-described Reagan Democrat, loaned himself $200,000 and has $458,497.66 of his own money invested in his campaign.

Other than loans, Siddiqui raised 54,194.28 in the fourth quarter and reported $540,251.21 in the bank.

Stem cell researcher Hans Keirstead raised $402,140, lending himself $165,000 and ending the quarter with $490,436 in cash on hand.

Rohrabacher’s fundraising numbers come as the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee is targeting his district, which voted for Hillary Clinton in 2016, according to the liberal website Daily Kos Elections.

Rohrabacher has said he is running for re-election even as many of his Republican colleagues are departing the House.

Last month, fellow California Republicans Rep. Ed Royce and Darrell Issa, whose districts also voted for Clinton, announced their retirements.

Rohrabacher, who has received the moniker “Putin’s favorite Congressman,” has also faced criticism for meeting with WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange.

Inside Elections with Nathan L. Gonzales rates California’s 48th District Tilt Republican.

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