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Duncan Hunter Challenger Hires Veteran Adviser Trippi

Former Dean campaign manager says Campa-Najjar can do same thing Doug Jones did in Alabama last year

Ammar Campa-Najjar, Democratic candidate for California's 50th Congressional district, announced Democratic consultant Joe Trippi was joining his team. (Thomas McKinless/CQ Roll Call file photo).
Ammar Campa-Najjar, Democratic candidate for California's 50th Congressional district, announced Democratic consultant Joe Trippi was joining his team. (Thomas McKinless/CQ Roll Call file photo).

California Rep. Duncan Hunter’s Democratic challenger announced Howard Dean’s former campaign manager would help him unseat the incumbent Republican.

Ammar Campa-Najjar’s campaign said it hired Joe Trippi, who also advised Sen. Doug Jones’ victory in Alabama’s Senate race last year, as lead strategist. 

“Ammar can win this race. Just like we saw in Alabama with Doug Jones, voters want to end the divisiveness and chaos, and start working together to get things done,” Trippi said in a statement. 

Trippi also pointed to Hunter facing a criminal investigation for using campaign cash to pay for personal expenses. 

“Incumbent Congressman Duncan Hunter represents scandal and partisanship,” he said. “Ammar will bring integrity to Washington, and work with everyone for common sense solutions.”

Hunter was one of the first members of Congress to endorse President Donald Trump.

Campa-Najjar released an internal poll on Monday showing the Democrat within single digits of the incumbent Hunter

Inside Elections with Nathan L. Gonzales rates the race for California’s 50th District as Likely Republican.

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