Hahn and Huey report fundraising in congressional race

Los Angeles City Councilwoman Janice Hahn has raised more than $1 million in her race for Congress, while businessman Craig Huey is relying on his personal bankroll for most of his campaign funds, according to reports filed this week with the Federal Election Commission.

Hahn, a Democrat running to succeed former Rep. Jane Harman (D-Venice) in a special July 12 election, had collected $1,097,461 by the June 22 end of the latest campaign finance reporting period. She reported having $323,348 left to spend and had taken no loans. After the reporting period closed, she received an additional $5,000 from DRIVE, a political action committee in Washington, D.C.

Huey, a Republican backed by “tea party” activists, lent his campaign $195,000 during the latest reporting period, from April 28 through June 22. That brought his total loans to his campaign to $695,000. His earlier ones, amounting to $500,000, gave him the biggest war chest in the 16-candidate special primary in May and helped him get into the runoff.

In addition to his own loans, Huey raised $144,120 by the end of the reporting period, bringing his overall campaign fund to $839,514. He had $56,526 left in his treasury.

But Huey, too, has added to his coffers since June 22, according to notices filed with the FEC. On June 24, he donated $100,000 to his campaign. He also received $5,000 from the California Republican Party and $10,000 from others in the last few days.

A substantial portion of Hahn’s contributions come from developers, lobbyists and others with business at City Hall. But she also has had help raising money from prominent Democratic leaders, including former President Bill Clinton; Emily’s List, which supports pro-choice female Democratic candidates; and others. Organized labor also is providing help with precinct walks, telephone banks and efforts to get people to vote.

The race for the South Bay-based 36th Congressional District, which runs largely along the coast from Venice to San Pedro, has grown increasingly contentious, with each camp slamming the other in cable TV spots and political mailers.

Democrats hold an 18-point registration edge in the district. But Huey believes his message of cutting government spending will resonate with voters and he derides Hahn as a career politician. Hahn says Huey’s views are too extreme for most of the voters they are fighting to represent.

jean.merl@latimes.com