Incumbent representatives running for re-election in the upcoming November election are largely outpacing their challengers in fundraising, according to recent records from the Federal Election Commission (FEC)
Representative Michelle Park Steel, seeking her third term in California’s 45th District, raised a total of $6.44 million by the end of the second quarter, with $5.24 million raised by the end of the first quarter and an additional $1.2 million in the second. Her campaign has spent approximately $2.47 million to date.
Her challenger, Democrat Derek Tran, a Vietnamese-American attorney and political newcomer, raised around $970,000 by the end of March. Tran’s campaign has been actively fundraising online, particularly among Vietnamese and Asian American and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) Democratic voters nationwide.
Representative Young Kim, also aiming for a third term in California’s 40th District, raised a total of $6.44 million, with $5.24 million in the first quarter and an additional $1.2 million in the second quarter.
Her Democratic opponent, Joe Kerr, reported a modest $1.51 million in fundraising, having already spent $1.11 million, leaving him with a critical need for funds over the next four months leading up to the election.
In Washington State, Representative Marilyn Strickland, a Democrat seeking a third term, raised $1.2 million by the end of the first quarter, surpassing her competitors. As of the end of March, she had spent $900,000 and had $300,000 remaining.
In the primary race for Washington’s 10th District, which concludes on August 6, leading Republican candidate Nirav Sheth has raised only around $26,000, making the contest appear heavily lopsided.
Former California State Senator Dave Min, running for the U.S. House, raised $2.23 million by the end of the first quarter. His Republican opponent, Scott Baugh, slightly leads with $2.38 million. Min has already spent $1.8 million, while Baugh has spent $490,000, planning to focus his remaining funds on the general election.
In California’s 34th District, which includes LA’s Koreatown, David Kim, making his third run, raised a total of $124,000 by the end of the first quarter, most of which has been spent. Incumbent Representative Jimmy Gomez raised a substantial $1.26 million in the same period, showing a significant financial advantage.
BY INSEONG CHOI, YOUNGNAM KIM [choi.inseong@koreadaily.com]
