ISSA UPS CAMPAIGN LOANS BY $800K

Self-funding for 50th seat tops $7.7M in high-priced race with Campa-najjar

Earlier this month, Republican congressional candidate Darrell Issa lent his campaign $800,000, giving himself a nearly $300,000 edge over Democratic opponent Ammar Campa-najjar, a few weeks before Election Day.

In the latest Federal Election Commission reports, Issa reported having $847,754 cash in his campaign war chest as of Oct. 14, compared with $587,455 in Campanajjar’s, as the two fight to represent the 50th Congressional District, which includes East and North Inland San Diego County and a small southern portion of Riverside County.

Issa, who had represented a different San Diego County congressional district for 18 years, led the way in fundraising Oct. 1 through

Oct. 14th, raising more than $1.2 million in his campaign committee. However, the bulk of that came from the $800,000 loan.

Once the wealthiest member of Congress, Issa has not been shy about dipping into personal funds as he attempts to return to Congress. He has given or lent a total of more than $7.7 million to his campaign during this election cycle.

Without the latest personal loan, Issa would have trailed Campa-najjar in fundraising during the first two weeks of October.

Campa-najjar, a San Diego State University lecturer who narrowly lost a race for the seat in 2018 to former Rep. Duncan Hunter, reportedly raised more than $528,725 during the October stretch. He did not make a personal contribution or loan.

Evan Crawford, professor of political science at the University of San Diego, said the race has been a close competition for several months, with consistently tight SEE 50TH • B12