Rep. Young Kim raised the most campaign funds among candidates running in California’s 40th Congressional District ahead of the November U.S. House election.
The race has drawn national attention because two Republican incumbents are running in the same district, an unusual outcome following redistricting. Rep. Ken Calvert, a 17-term congressman from California’s 41st District, has also entered the race. However, Kim’s latest fundraising figures appear to ease concerns that her competitiveness could be weakened by the new political landscape.
According to the Federal Election Commission on May 1, Kim raised a total of $7,650,304.71 from January of last year through March of this year, ranking first among candidates in the 40th District.
Her fundraising total also placed her 11th among all 3,387 candidates running for the U.S. House this year. Kim also reported the highest spending in the race, with $3,601,336.05 in expenditures during the same period.
The top organizational contributor to Kim was the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, or AIPAC. The pro-Israel political action committee has supported Kim multiple times. On Sept. 17 of last year, AIPAC donated a total of $105,000 in separate contributions of $15,000 each.
Among individual donors, the highest contribution amount was $7,000, with six donors giving that same amount. By dollar amount, however, small donations of $200 or less made up the largest share of Kim’s fundraising. Those contributions totaled $2,950,961.16.
Calvert ranked second in fundraising. During the same period, he raised $5,245,240.06, about 32% less than Kim. His spending totaled $1,771,153.86, less than half of Kim’s expenditures.
Among Democratic candidates, Korean American candidate Esther Kim Varet raised the most money. She reported $2,741,343.42 in contributions and $1,591,411.35 in spending during the same period.
A survey conducted by polling firm POS among 400 voters in the 40th District showed Kim leading the field with 23% support. Calvert and Democrat Joe Kerr, former president of the Orange County Professional Firefighters Association, followed closely at 22% each. Varet received 14% support.
