As the age-old saying in political campaigning goes, “Elections are won in the off-year.” Following their embarrassing sweep last November, apparently the Orange County GOP and their candidates for Congress have not taken this lesson to heart.
As reported by the Capistrano Dispatch, Orange County Congressional Democrats—have raked in $4.47 million from donors, out earning their Republican challengers by about $1.8 million.
Sadly, one way the local GOP are “hoping” to get more donations to their Congressional candidates is through the completely failing and Trump-endorsed national fundraising program, WinRed. Only problem is that not one of the GOP challengers in Orange County are using the program…that’s right ZERO OC GOP candidates use their party’s national fundraising program.
Earlier this summer, the Orange County GOP amazingly claimed it was “too early” to begin registering voters, knocking on doors and organizing on the ground. To sum up the sad state of affairs for the Orange County GOP and their candidates, they are being completely outraised and outhustled on the ground but good thing they have a popular president at the top of the ticket come November…oh wait…
“While the Orange County GOP takes their time determining how, when and if to begin implementing a campaign plan, Democrats have been raising the resources needed and organizing to win from Day One,” said DCCC Spokesperson, Andy Orellana.
Read more about how Orange County Democrats are outworking their GOP challengers, below or HERE.
The Capistrano Dispatch: OC Democrats Outearning GOP in Congressional Races
More than $7 million has been poured into the war chests of 2020 candidates running in Orange County’s seven congressional district races, with most of that money going toward Democrats looking to capitalize on their sweeping victories in 2018.
The latest campaign finance disclosures filed with the Federal Election Commission and compiled by The Capistrano Dispatch show that the seven congressional incumbents—all Democrats—have raked in $4.47 million from donors, outearning their Republican challengers by about $1.8 million.
Congressional Democratic candidates who are hoping to maintain control of the U.S. House of Representatives also currently have the upper hand on a national level, as they’ve collectively raised $151.42 million in campaign contributions so far, while Republicans have received $120.41 million, according to the FEC.
Campaign contributions for the U.S. Senate races show another side of the elections, as Republican collections have far exceeded that of Democrats, who have raised just shy of $82 million compared to the GOP’s roughly $111.55 million.
One way the local GOP is hoping to get more donations to their congressional candidates is through the recent launch of WinRed, a digital fundraising tool to generate grassroots support for Republican candidates in federal-, local- and state-level elections.
Randall Avila, executive director to the Republican Party of Orange County, said WinRed’s competitor, ActBlue, was very beneficial for congressional Democratic candidates in 2018. The WinRed site, Randall explained, allows donors to contribute to one campaign and then be notified of other candidates they can also give to.
“So we’re focused on building our war chest to engage with people who are aren’t large donors,” Avila said, adding that a lot of local money from large donors doesn’t necessarily stay in the county. “We want a lot of that money to stay here.”
Avila said the money OCGOP and its candidates raise will help in their efforts to regain the four congressional seats they lost in 2018.
In last year’s November elections, Democrats turned all seven of the congressional districts that encompass cities in Orange County blue by flipping four seats—the 39th, 45th, 48th and 49th—that had long been held by Republicans.
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Ada Briceño, chairperson to the Democratic Party of Orange County, said the local party’s aim in 2020 is to build upon their inroads made in 2018 by building a stronger base and also winning more of the city council races and school board seats.
“We’re going to continue to work hard and build upon what we did in 2018,” she said, noting that will include “building our stronger base and making sure that we are even taking down ballot races, so taking seats in city councils and school boards and so forth.”
So far, Rep. Katie Porter of the 45th District is the OC Democrats’ top earner, receiving nearly $1.4 million in campaign contributions, with Rep. Harley Rouda of the 48th District not very far behind, having collected about $1.06 million.
In the race for the 49th, Levin’s campaign has taken in more than $891,000 in contributions.
Briceño attributes the freshman incumbent’s fundraising to his sponsorship and introduction of legislation meant to protect the environment, take care of veterans and support the Affordable Care Act, commonly referred to as Obamacare.
“We feel very proud of the fundraising that Mike Levin has been able to do so far,” Briceño said. “A lot of it comes from grassroots. He set out to do what he set out do, and people are responsive.”
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