Democratic challengers to California Rep. Darrell Issa raised more money combined than the Republican incumbent in the third quarter.Environmental lawyer Mike Levin, who jumped into the race in March, raised $300,874.66 — more than double the $147,553.95 raised by retired Marine Corps Col. Doug Applegate, who narrowly lost to Issa last year and is gunning for a rematch.And real estate investor Paul Kerr, who is largely self-funded and announced in July, shows he had more than $504,000 in total receipts. While that is more than Issa, Applegate and Levin, his report showed Kerr gave his campaign $262,727 out of his own pocket.Still, Issa had a healthy quarter and raised $434,707.69.There is a temptation to see the Applegate and Levin’s campaigns as a rehash of 2016 presidential primary on the Democratic side as Applegate boosted Sen. Bernie Sanders and Levin is a former member of Hillary Clinton’s national finance committee.But both are running decidedly left-wing policies. Both support single-payer health care and Levin supports making college tuition-free at four-year public institutions for families making up to $125,000 a year.Levin also has double the amount Applegate has in cash on hand, holding $530,326.10 to Applegate's 263,159.59. Kerr held $229,039.53 in cash on hand, the lowest of the three candidates.As one of the richest members of Congress, Issa far outpaces them in cash on hand, reporting $852,028.27 in his campaign war chest.Issa beat Applegate by just 1,621 votes in 2016. That, along with the fact his district broke for Hillary Clinton, has made him a prime target for Democrats. In September, a judge ordered that Issa pay Applegate $45,000 for legal expenses after Issa sued Applegate saying that Applegate’s advertisements hurt Issa’s reputation, the San Diego Union-Tribune reported. Issa’s lawyers said they were appealing the decision.Inside Elections with Nathan L. Gonzales rates California’s 49th District a Tossup.Clarification 9 a.m. | An earlier version of this story did not include Paul Kerr’s fundraising figures.
