Congressional Candidates Step Up Spending

In the eight-way race for the new 47th District Congressional seat, Republican candidate Gary DeLong has raised the most money – $572,501 –nearly $200,000 more than the next highest fundraiser, Democratic opponent Alan Lowenthal, according to the latest figures.

DeLong, a Long Beach City Council member and businessman, and Lowenthal, a California State Senator and college professor, are running along with six others to represent Los Alamitos, Rossmoor and Long Beach.

Lowenthal being the most recognizeable name-state senator, former state assemblyman and Long Beach Councilman-is the presumed frontrunner expected to face the Republican winner of the June primary, observers say. But the Republican candidates have been campaigning less against each other and more against his incumbency.

The district represents 700,000 residents, 60% of which are in Long Beach (420,000) and the rest (280,000) divided among several Orange County cities. 

Candidates are required to disclose their campaign’s financial information with the Federal election commission. 

Here’s a breakdown of the donations the candidates received through March 31, the latest campaign finance statement filing deadline:

• DeLong, a businessman and Long Beach City Council member, has raised the most: $572,501 with a majority of the money ($555,421) coming from 629 individual donors, while the rest ($17,079) comes from 13 political action committees including the JetBlue Airways Corp. Crewmember Good Government Fund and the Valero PAC, both of which donated $1,000.
  DeLong has spent $168,209, significantly outspending any other campaign.
• Lowenthal, a Long Beach resident and state senator, has raised the second highest amount with $378,409, and has already spent $95,119
  Compared to DeLong, a larger share of Lowenthal’s cash comes from political action committees ($149,254), but the majority ($224,154) comes from 274 individual donors. Also, Lowenthal has given his campaign $5,001 of his own money.
  Some of the 53 political action committees supporting Lowenthal include the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 1, which donated $5,000 and the Maersk Inc. Good Government fund, which donated a combined $10,000, and carpenters, teachers, and marriage counselor’s unions..

• Republican candidate Steven Kuykendall, a former U.S. Congressman and Long Beach businessman, has raised $103,968 from 114 individuals, but he’s also spent $98,750, the second most so far.  

• The second biggest spender is Democratic candidate Usha Jayendra Shah, a charitable organization president, who has already spent $99,206 and has reported no funds raised. In comparison DeLong has a spent $168,209 and Lowenthal $95,119.

• Republican candidate Sanford Kahn, a Long Beach business owner, has given his own campaign $ $9,350 and spent $8,636.
• Democratic Candidate E. Peter Mathews, a college professor and educator has received $170 ($120 from individual donors) and spent $104.

The Commission had no financial information listed for two candidates: Jay Shah (D) of Long Beach and Steve Foley (R) of Cypress.