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Home , Adam Schiff, Ami Bera, Dana Rohrabacher, Darrell Issa, David Valadao, Devin Nunes

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Over the weekend, federal candidates submitted their second quarter reports to the FEC. In the aftermath of the campaign finance disclosures, the state of play in a number of ’s contested races has begun to crystallize.

CA01 (R-LaMalfa)

Four Democrats are hoping to unseat incumbent Republican LaMalfa from his safely Republican district. While LaMalfa’s fundraising has been tepid, none of the candidates challenging him have exhibited any significant prowess in that area as of yet.

 Doug LaMalfa (R-Inc): Q1 - $42,808, Q2 - $79,205, COH - $112,606  Marty Walters (D): Q2 - $6,392, COH - $4,905  Jessica Holcombe (D): Q2 - $5,451, COH - $4,248  Dennis Duncan (D): Q1 - $530, Q2 - $1,601, COH - $597  Brandon Storment (D): Q2 - $0, COH $0

CA04 (R-McClintock)

Three Democrats and one Republican were active during the second quarter in their quest to unseat incumbent Tom McClintock from his safely Republican district. MIT Political Science Professor Regina Bateson holds the pole position among his Democratic challengers, while geographer Roza Calderon is closely behind with the aid of a $55,000 loan from the candidate.

 Tom McClintock (R-Inc): Q1 - $128,463, Q2 - $144,632, COH - $302,231  Regina Bateson (D): Q2 - $94,793, COH - $85,480  Roza Calderon (D): Q2 - $65,160, COH - $57,655  Rochelle Lyn Wilcox (D): Q2 - $100, COH - $100

CA07 (D-Bera) – NRCC Target

Perennial GOP target posted two consecutive $318,000 fundraising quarters, while Omba Kipuke, the lone Republican who had filed during the second quarter has yet to submit a campaign finance statement. World Trade Center CEO Andrew Grand entered the race in July and is likely the only credible GOP challenger in the race at this time.

 Ami Bera (D-Inc): Q1 - $318,792, Q2 - $318,174, COH - $617,852

CA10 (R-Denham) – DCCC Target

No fewer than seven Democrats and one independent have filed to take on incumbent Republican , who is among the DCCC’s top targets in 2018 after his district went for by 2.9%. Denham’s fundraising has been robust, but Bessemer Venture Partners VP was competitive in the second quarter, and former 2006 candidate TJ Cox, who committed $500,000 during his previous run, filed in July and is likely best positioned to give Harder a run for his money.

 Jeff Denham (R-Inc): Q1 - $361,446, Q2 - $498,237, COH - $1,045,424  Josh Harder (D): Q2 - $403,590, COH - $374,972  Dotty Nygard (D): Q2 - $15,120, COH - $14,503  Lisa Battista (D): Q2 - $7,028, COH - $5,188  Mike Barkley (D): Q1 - $35,895, Q2 $670, COH - $255  Seth Vaughn (D): Q2 - $823, COH - $480  Terra Eva Snover (Ind): Q1 - $500, Q2 - $300, COH - $462  Mateo Morelos Bedolla (D): Q2 - $114, COH - $101

CA21 (R-Valadao) – DCCC Target

This is a competitive district that Hillary Clinton carried by over 15% in 2016, and the DCCC has placed this district on their initial 2018 target list. Emilio Huerta, Valadao's 2016 opponent, has filed for a second attempt in 2018.

(R-Inc): Q1 - $414,168, Q2 - $339,141, COH - $565,900  Emilio Huerta (D): Q1 - $29, Q2 - $35,828, COH - $110,584

CA22 (R-Nunes) – DCCC Target

After incumbent Republican courted controversy during the House Intelligence Committee’s investigation, the DCCC added CA22 to their target list in May, and three Democrats have filed with the FEC to challenge Nunes, who possesses the single largest war chest for any California incumbent. Despite being the sole Democrat in the race in the second quarter against the GOP lightning rod, prosecutor Andrew Janz reported an uninspiring haul.

 Devin Nunes (R-Inc): Q1 - $362,983, Q2 - $479,522, COH - $3,496,129  Andrew Janz (D): Q2 - $85,616, COH - $40,840

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CA24 (D-Carbajal) – NRCC Target

Freshman incumbent Democrat will be up for re-election in 2018, and the NRCC has placed CA24 on its initial target list. Carbajal has been raising funds at a brisk clip, and while one Republican has filed, he is unlikely to wage a credible effort and the GOP will likely try to seek out a stronger candidate.

 Salud Carbajal (D-Inc): Q1 - $567,696, Q2 - $418,364, COH - $867,688  Michael Erin Woody (R): Q2 - $5,000, COH - $4,274

CA25 (R-Knight) – DCCC Target

This is a competitive district that Hillary Clinton carried by over 6% in 2016, and the DCCC has placed this district on their initial 2018 target list. Five Democratic challengers, including Bryan Caforio, Knight's DCCC-backed 2016 opponent, have filed statements of candidacy with the FEC, although only three have reported any fundraising activity. The DCCC establishment candidate vs progressive insurgent dynamic that created an issue in the 2016 campaign looks set to resurface in 2018, although , filling the progressive role this cycle, is better positioned to make it a competitive effort with Caforio.

 Steve Knight (R-Inc): Q1 - $180,047, Q2 - $256,328, COH - $433,301  Bryan Caforio (D): Q1 - $2,494, Q2 - $223,019, COH - $175,635  Katie Hill (D): Q1 - $52,527, Q2 - $168,408, COH - $173,299  Jess Phoenix (D): Q2 - $77,001, COH - $51,658

CA26 (D-Brownley)

Incumbent Democrat will be up for re-election in her increasingly safe Democratic district, although three Republicans, including actor Antonio Sabato, Jr., have filed in a bid to unseat her. Despite going into the race with the highest name ID, Sabato reported dismal fundraising numbers in the second quarter, contributing just $300 to his own campaign.

 Julia Brownley (D-Inc): Q1 - $272,171, Q2 - $337,381, COH - $2,128,623  Shane Skelton (R): Q2 - $59,645, COH - $49,074  Antonio Sabato, Jr. (R): Q2 - $14,343, COH - $13,476  Rafael Dagnesses (R): Q2 - $1,057, COH - $304

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CA28 (D-Schiff)

Incumbent Democrat will be up for re-election in 2018.While one Republican challenger has filed, he has yet to submit a campaign finance statement and is unlikely to mount a credible effort. The dramatic spike in Schiff’s fundraising during the second quarter, one that is far and away his highest in recent memory, presages a run in a competitive race, and will likely do little to tamp down on speculation about an imminent retirement.

 Adam Schiff (D-Inc): Q1 - $121,274, Q2 - $719,066, COH - $2,573,388

CA31 (D-Aguilar)

Incumbent Democrat will be up for re-election in 2018. 'Economics for Dummies' author Sean Flynn, a Republican who previously ran in the 2016 primary and committed nearly half a million of his own money to his campaign in that attempt, has filed once again for 2018 now that the GOP 2014 and 2016 general election challenger Paul Chabot has decamped to Texas.

 Pete Aguilar (D-Inc): Q1 - $513,149, Q2 - $363,440, COH - $1,567,167  Sean Masaki Flynn (R): Q2 - $130,454, COH - $76,700

CA36 (D-Ruiz) – NRCC Target

While the NRCC has placed CA36 on its 2018 target list, no Republican candidate has filed as of yet, while Ruiz has been raising money at a brisk clip throughout the year and building up a significant war chest to take on all comers.

(D-Inc): Q1 - $525,355, Q2 - $436,674, COH - $1,596,549

CA39 (R-Royce) – DCCC Target

This one time safely Republican district has been drifting into marginal territory, and that was apparent when Hillary Clinton trounced by over 8.5% in 2016, a fact that contributed to the DCCC placing CA39 on their initial 2018 target list. Two Democrats and one No Party Preference Berniecrat filed during the second quarter, although the post-Q2 addition of lottery winner , who will be in a position to self-fund, and former Tesla regulatory counsel and Rep. Cardenas Chief of Staff Sam Jamma, will likely muddy the waters further, with no clear front-runner on the Democratic side at this stage. Royce’s campaign war chest stands as the second-largest for any California incumbent.

(R-Inc): Q1 - $507,195, Q2 - $459,507, COH - $3,119,794  Mai Khanh Tran (D): Q2 - $273,148, COH - $257,837  Phil Janowicz (D): Q2 - $180,284, COH - $149,454

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CA45 (R-Walters) – DCCC Target

This has been a safe Republican district at the congressional level, although Hillary Clinton carried CA45 by over 5% in 2016, a fact that contributed to the DCCC placing this district on their initial 2018 target list. Incumbent Republican has exhibited robust fundraising in 2017. However, three of her four Democratic challengers have themselves posted strong showings, with no single Democratic challenger able to claim front-runner status at this stage.

 Mimi Walters (R-Inc): Q1 - $384,728, Q2 - $701,697, COH - $1,110,722  (D): Q2 - $311,571, COH - $258,820  David Min (D): Q2 - $304,208, COH - $248,146  Kia Hamadanchy: Q2 - $200,010, COH - $129,172  Eric Rywalski (D): Q2 - $22,493, COH - $18,016

CA48 (R-Rohrabacher) – DCCC Target

While ordinarily safely Republican, Hillary Clinton carried CA48 by close to 2% in 2016, and the DCCC has placed this district on their initial 2018 target list. With his ongoing defense of both Donald Trump and Russian President , there has been no shortage of challengers stepping up to the plate for the chance to unseat the incumbent. Former Assemblyman and Orange County GOP Chair Scott Baugh began raising money for a future run in the event of Rohrabacher's retirement, initially with the incumbent's blessing. While he at one point indicated he would run in 2018 regardless of the Congressman's plans, mid-year reports show no significant fundraising activity in 2017, making a challenge less likely.

 Scott Baugh (R): Q1 - $0, Q2 - $2, COH - $546,915  (R-Inc): Q2 - $222,629, Q2 - $286,084, COH - $406,616  (D): Q1 - $215,258, Q2 - $104,078, COH - $177,974  Hans Keirstead (D): Q2 - $138,405, COH - $135,396  Laura Oatman (D): Q2 - $121,413, COH - $68,870  Brandon Reiser (Lib): Q2 - $6,900, COH - $6,409

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CA49 (R-Issa) – DCCC Target

Incumbent Republican spent over $6.3 million during the 2016 cycle, with his $3.7 million in reserves dwindling to just $329,151 following the election. His narrow 1,621 vote win over retired Marine Colonel Doug Applegate landed him on the DCCC’s 2018 target list, although the district retains a 6.71% GOP registration advantage. Applegate announced his second attempt immediately after the called the race for Issa in 2016. Environmental Attorney became the second Democrat to enter the race in early 2017, and real estate investor and U.S. Navy veteran Paul Kerr entered after the end of the second quarter.

 Darrell Issa (R-Inc): Q1 - $367,073, Q2 - $455,207, COH - $671,529  Mike Levin (D): Q1 - $283,458, Q2 - $333,537, COH - $416,345  Doug Applegate (D): Q1 - $111,081, Q2 - $281,143, COH - $262,730

CA50 (R-Hunter) – DCCC Target

Incumbent Republican Duncan D. Hunter, who had been the target of an ongoing House Ethics investigation, was revealed to be under a federal criminal investigation by the Department of Justice over repeated campaign finance violations in March 2017, and the DCCC added CA50 to its 2018 target list in May with six Democrats lining up for the chance to unseat him. June 30th campaign finance statements show Hunter has accumulated over $336,000 in legal fees in the first half of the year, and his fundraising has failed to keep up (Obama Administration alum Ammar Campa-Najjar outraised Hunter in Q2). In a further sign of trouble for the incumbent, two Republican challengers filed after the June 30th Q2 deadline.

 Duncan Hunter (R-Inc): Q1 - $163,105, Q2 - $155,628, COH - $617,575  Ammar Campa-Najjar (D): Q1 - $8,340, Q2 - $165,331, COH - $122,664  Josh Butner (D): Q2: $141,117, COH - $114,846  Gloria Chadwick (D): Q1 - $3,255, Q2 - $20,581, COH - $13,086  Pierre Beauregard (D): Q1 - $22, Q2 - $12,508, COH - $6,525  Patrick Malloy (D): Q1 - $195, Q2 - $152, COH - $580

CA52 (D-Peters) – NRCC Target

Incumbent Democrat Scott Peters will be up for re-election in 2018 and the NRCC has placed CA52 on its 2018 target list. Peters’ fundraising has been consistently strong during his tenure in congress, and 2017 is shaping up to be no exception, making it an uphill struggle for the sole Republican challenger who has filed thus far.

 Scott Peters (D-Inc): Q1 - $402,807, Q2 - $440,944, COH - $1,708,487  Omar Qudrat (R): Q2 - $111,487, COH - $96,376

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