The new maps aren't done quite yet and he may well have to navigate a primary this time, but Democrat Ami Bera continues to post big fundraising numbers for a possible re-match for Rep. Dan Lungren's congressional seat.
Federal campaign reports show Bera raised $534,009 through the first six months of the year. The report shows he's still carrying a $262,289 debt from his 2010 loss to Lungren, but $250,000 of that is money he lent himself. He had $450,508 in cash on hand as of June 30.
The Elk Grove physician continues to tap donors from the medical and Indian-American communities -- and family members. Sixteen donors named Bera each gave between $4,500 and $5,000 to the campaign during the first six months of the year.
Lungren, meanwhile, raised $417,418 for the six-month period -- about half of it from political action committees -- and had $328,002 on hand as of June 30. The Gold River Republican's numbers are nearly identical to his fundraising output two years ago during the the first six months of 2009.
Current district maps under consideration by the California Citizens Redistricting Commission give a slight registration advantage to Democrats in the district. Assembly maps under consideration show Assemblywoman Alyson Huber, D-El Dorado Hills, lumped in with Republican Assemblywoman Beth Gaines in a heavily GOP district, and Huber said she's thinking about heading into the Lungren-Bera fray.
In the 2010 race won by Lungren, Bera spent $2.9 million to Lungren's $2 million.
PHOTO CREDIT: Dan Lungren, above left, addresses his supporters at Republican headquarters in Rancho Cordova on election night, Nov. 2, 2010. Renee Byer/The Sacramento Bee
Ami Bera, speaks at a forum organized by the Asian Pacific Islander American Public Affairs Association, Sept. 26, 2010. Hector Amezcua/The Sacramento Bee
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