Republican challenger Scott Baugh for California’s 47th congressional race is outpacing Democratic incumbent Rep. Katie Porter (D-Calif.) in newly released in-district donations, according to an Epoch Times analysis.
While Porter has far more overall funding at around $17.8 million cash on hand according to new Federal Election Commission (FEC) filings released on April 15, Baugh is far outpacing her in donations from those who live in the district, which likely translates to voters.
Through March 31, 2022, Baugh has raised around $412,450 via in-district donations compared to Porter’s $226,843.
“The people in the 47th district are deeply concerned about the direction of the country. They’re concerned about inflation. They’re concerned about crime, and they’re concerned that the current leadership wants to continue down a path that’s going to make these matters even worse,” Baugh said in an April 18 interview with The Epoch Times. “And that’s why there’s robust support to make a change.”
Baugh said he’s raised more in the district than Porter because of ties he has made with the community over three decades, including his work on with a gang intervention program, as a founding board chairman of the Orange County Marathon Foundation, and other philanthropic work, including founding a local school.
“I know a lot of people in the district,” he said.
Additionally, Baugh has retained most of his funding, only spending about $125,000 of his overall $1.3 million, whereas Porter has spent almost $6 million out of nearly $18 million in donations according to the election commission.
Despite Porter having a massive war chest, Baugh said he is not concerned, because most of Porter’s funding is coming from outside her district and often outside California.
“The only thing we need to do is raise enough money to get our message out,” he said. “[Even if she raises] $20 or $30 million I don’t think that it particularly helps her because this district is not interested in her aggressive and progressive policies.”
Porter’s campaign did not respond to a request for a comment.
