A late spending frenzy has broken out in California’s pivotal 48th District Congressional race as the leading Democratic challengers look to advance past Tuesday’s primary.
And one candidate — Ammar Campa-Najjar — is the overwhelming target of the last-minute barrage. He has had millions more spent against him than any other candidate in the field.
With four days left in the race, these groups will likely spend even more.
Campa-Najjar had half-a-million dollars spent against him by the Democratic Majority for Israel before an independent expenditure committee even emerged to support him.
Democratic Majority for Israel has now spent $2 million against Campa-Najjar — $1.5 million more than it has laid out against any other candidate nationwide this year.
The PAC has endorsed San Diego Councilmember Marni von Wilpert, Campa-Najjar’s top Democratic opponent in the race to replace retiring Rep. Darrell Issa in a district gerrymandered into a pickup opportunity through Proposition 50 last year.
Von Wilpert has amassed more financial support through independent expenditures than any other candidate in the race. Filings available through Thursday, May 28, show independent groups have spent over $2.16 million supporting her.
Some of that support for von Wilpert doubled as opposition for Campa-Najjar. Project 218, another super PAC, spent $900,000 backing von Wilpert this week, on an ad campaign that endorsed her while also attacking him.
The group’s campaign mimics the language in her campaign, in a tactic known as redboxing, a common loophole that lets independent expenditures echo a campaign’s messaging without directly coordinating with the campaign. Direct coordination is against the law.
The primary organization spending against von Wilpert, Serving CA, is a super PAC convened to support Campa-Najjar, with support revealed in its first filing from Qualcomm co-founder Irwin Jacobs and an organization primarily funded by members of the Bezos family. The Super PAC has spent more than $600,000 to oppose von Wilpert.
Serving CA, as of May 28, has spent over $200,000 in support of Campa-Najjar. In total he has received over $890,000 in independent expenditures.
But that sum doesn’t come close to measuring up against what’s been spent against him.
As of May 28, FEC filings show more than $3.4 million in spending directly labeled as opposition to Campa-Najjar.
In the last month, a new super PAC emerged to spend more than $630,000 to keep Campa-Najjar out of the general election.
Veterans for Truth PAC formed at the end of April. It has no recorded payments outside of those made in opposition to Campa-Najjar. There is no record of where the super PAC’s money is coming from, and voters likely won’t know until after the election.
Michael Beckel, director of money in politics reform at Issue One, said contested races often see a surge of spending in the final month, and super PACs often emerge late to “game the system.”
They legally must file monthly reports, but those created a month out from when the polls close typically won’t file until after the election is for the most part decided.
“You often see money not just from super PACs but from dark money groups from people trying to shape the legislative landscape,” he said. “Competitive races are the ones that are going to determine control of congress, who controls the gavels who sets the legislative agenda next year.”
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