California House Races at Record Funding Pace : Politics: At least 11 contests will top the $1-million mark, compared to 15 nationwide in 1990.

Setting a record-breaking pace that is anything but recessionary, California Democratic and Republican congressional candidates have raised more than $37 million in 52 races, including at least 11 that will top $1 million and three that will exceed $2 million.

They include Rep. Robert K. Dornan in Orange County, where Republicans generally were vastly outspending their opponents.

Statewide, however, California Democrats hold a fund-raising edge in two-thirds of 12 hotly contested House races and an enormous advantage in five, according to a computer-assisted study by The Times of reports covering campaign activity through Oct. 15. Women’s groups and union political action committees have contributed heavily to this advantage.

In three of these battles, veteran Democratic Reps. Vic Fazio of West Sacramento, George E. Brown Jr. of Colton and Richard H. Lehman of Sanger have raised more than twice as much as their challengers. Fazio, the fifth-ranking House Democratic leader, has raised $1.2 million--61% from labor, financial, agricultural and other PACs.

Even Rep. Anthony C. Beilenson (D-Los Angeles), who has refused to accept PAC contributions, has received significantly more money than his Republican challenger, Assemblyman Tom McClintock (R-Thousand Oaks), in a closely watched contest for a seat that includes part of the west San Fernando Valley, Malibu and most of Thousand Oaks.

At the same time, four pro-abortion rights Democratic women seeking open seats--Lynn Schenk in San Diego, Patricia Garamendi in Stockton, Anna Eshoo in the Bay Area and Jane Harman in the coastal South Bay and Westside--have raised considerably more than their Republican opponents. Buoyed by her own money, Harman, an attorney, is expected to spend more than $1 million.

“Those who support Democrats are enthused, and they feel their contributions will be meaningful,” said Allan Hoffenblum, a Los Angeles-based Republican consultant. “It comes from the sense, ‘We’re going to recapture the White House’ and goes all the way down.”

Incumbency, however, still transcends party lines when it comes to fund-raising clout. Three Republican incumbents who are considered vulnerable also hold advantages over their opponents, though none by as much as 2 to 1. Freshmen Reps. Frank Riggs of Windsor and John T. Doolittle of Rocklin and three-term Rep. Elton Gallegly of Simi Valley face serious opposition.

This picture reflects all funds raised by candidates in the two-year election cycle, including money raised in 1991 and during the spring primary campaigns. It is based on reports filed with the Federal Election Commission.

Despite fierce competition for funds from two costly U.S. Senate races in California as well as the presidential campaign, the Golden State is setting a pace for spending in House races that is without precedent nationwide, experts say.

Reapportionment, anti-incumbent sentiment and a wave of retirements have led to an unusual number of competitive, high-spending congressional races. The state gained seven seats following the 1990 census as a result of population increases, and eight lawmakers either retired or sought to move up to the U.S. Senate.

The figure of 11 or more million-dollar races 2 1/2 weeks before Tuesday’s election nearly doubles California’s total for 1990. Nationwide, there were only 15 such contests at this point in 1990.

At this time in 1990, no House race in California had exceeded $2 million. Fazio’s race against former state Sen. H. L. Richardson has topped that mark. Harman’s battle with Los Angeles City Councilwoman Joan Milke Flores for the new 36th District seat is expected to do so as well. And Santa Barbara Republican Michael Huffington has invested more than $4 million in his record-breaking campaign.

“This certainly far exceeds anything we’ve seen in the past in the state of California and, I would expect, far exceeds any state ever in terms of million-dollar races,” said Fred Wertheimer, president of Common Cause, the citizens’ lobbying group that tracks campaign spending.

Incumbents enjoy a particular advantage with PACs, which raise and contribute money on behalf of corporate, labor, ideological and other interests. These groups, which generally have major legislative and regulatory stakes in government, tend to back candidates who are already in office or whose election appears likely.

The most consistent big contributors to Democratic campaigns are labor, environmental and women’s PACs, including various organizations that support abortion rights. The Republican counterparts tend to be defense, energy and conservative PACs, including the National Rifle Assn. and the Lincoln clubs of Orange County and Northern California.

Among Democratic heavyweights, Fazio has raised $205,576 from unions, $148,189 from financial interests, and $132,510 from agricultural and food PACs for his 3rd District race in the Sacramento delta. He also has major support from health and medical, defense, and various pro-abortion rights, pro-Social Security, pro-gay rights and pro-Israel PACs.

In contrast, Fazio has received only $122,996, or 8% of his total, from small donors who have contributed $200 or less. He’s received $453,713 from large individual donors.

Richardson, an outspoken conservative who has built a wide circle of supporters through pro-gun owners rights groups, such as Gun Owners of America, which he founded, has taken in only 7% of his $637,311 from PACs. Nearly 62% of his total receipts are from small donors.

Richardson, a former state senator, has raised 70% of his PAC money from conservative groups, such as the NRA and Phyllis Schlafly’s Eagle Forum. He said his individual backers include gun owners, business people and fellow conservatives.

Richardson said he faces the “Grand Canyon” of fund-raising gaps but will have enough money “to get out the message we need to get out.” Chiding his opponent for his PAC support, he said, “Vic’s in the business of dispensing perks. He’s just calling in the chits.”

Brown, the liberal chairman of the House Science, Space and Technology Committee, has raised 55% of his funds from PACs. A prominent labor ally, he has received $156,715 from labor PACs. A key figure on aerospace funding, he has raised another $94,537 from defense PACs.

Brown’s opponent, former Vietnam War fighter pilot Dick Rutan, has struggled to raise $344,231--well below his original goal of more than $600,000. Rutan has received $69,050 from PACs, including $9,900 from the NRA and $5,000 from the Lincoln Club of Orange County.

“It’s been an extraordinarily tough year for Republicans in the fund-raising area because the resources are going to so many people,” said Chris Josi, Rutan’s press secretary. “This campaign has suffered as a result.”

Lehman, a five-term incumbent whose newly drawn 19th District in the Central Valley has left him less secure, raised $688,568 in the two-year election cycle, 61% of it from PACs. Unions have given him $119,350; financial services gave $62,820, and agriculture and food interests gave $54,320. Only 8% of Lehman’s donors are small contributors.

“The money comes from people within the district that contribute to those PACs--labor, agricultural interests, business interests,” said Kelley Moran, Lehman’s campaign manager. “Rick has voted for campaign finance reform, but as long as the rules are the way they are, you’re going to play by the rules.”

Republican Tal Cloud, a 28-year-old executive seeking office for the first time, has raised $108,753, including $16,425 from PACs. But Cloud said his campaign has received an additional $50,000 in financial assistance from the National Republican Congressional Committee.

Beilenson, a member of the powerful House Rules Committee who is running in a new Republican-leaning 24th District, has raised $573,414 from individuals. Beilenson is heavily supported by lawyers; he says most are longtime friends and backers.

McClintock, an anti-tax conservative, has raised $350,836, 32% of it from PACs. He is supported by the NRA and PACs representing anti-tax, right-to-work, banking and insurance interests.

The three Republican incumbents facing the most intense challenges enjoy more modest fund-raising advantages.

Riggs, one of the seven freshmen who kicked up a storm over the now-defunct House bank and other perks, has received $596,683, including 29% from PACs, in his northern coastal 1st District. His top PAC donors are financial services and real estate interests.

His Democratic opponent, Dan Hamburg, a former Mendocino County supervisor, has taken in $530,498, including $82,050 from unions and considerable funds from environmentalists.

Doolittle, another one of Congress’ brash “Gang of Seven,” has raised $445,573, more than a third from PACs, in his bid to hang on to a 4th District seat in Mother Lode country. Doolittle has been most heavily funded by conservative, agriculture and financial services PACs.

Democrat Patricia Malberg, a teacher and activist who is opposing Doolittle in a rematch of their tight 1990 race, has raised $246,476. Nearly 25% of her funds are from PACs, particularly unions and women’s groups.

Gallegly has raised $555,140, including 25% from PACs. His leading benefactors in his bid to win a fourth term in Ventura County’s 23rd District are defense and financial services interests.

His Democratic challenger, educational consultant Anita Perez Ferguson, has received $470,384, including 42% from PACs. Ferguson, who is vice president of the National Women’s Political Caucus, is heavily supported by unions and numerous women’s groups.

Among those seeking open seats, Schenk has opened up the biggest advantage. A lawyer who served in the Cabinet of former Gov. Edmund G. (Jerry) Brown Jr., she has taken in $904,582, including 23% from PACs. Numerous women’s groups have helped boost her chances in north San Diego County’s 49th District seat.

Schenk has received 53% of her contributions from women, including $67,000 from individuals steered to her by EMILY’s List, a national political network for pro-abortion rights Democratic women, press secretary Jenny Dean said.

Republican Judy Jarvis, a nurse and upset winner of a 10-candidate GOP primary who is running as a political outsider, has not fared as well. She has raised $194,696, including 39% from PACs. Her biggest supporters include various health PACs. She has also received $50,000 in coordinated support from the National Republican Congressional Committee.

Harman, a longtime Democratic activist, had taken in $876,581 as of Oct. 15. She has received backing from women’s groups and unions in her bid for the 36th District seat.

Harman had loaned herself $223,000 for the primary. In recent days, she loaned her campaign another $400,000 that is not reflected in her totals as of mid-October, an aide said. Her husband is Sidney Harman, founder of audio equipment manufacturer Harman International.

Flores, meanwhile, has raised $657,286, including 27% from PACs. Her top PAC contributors have been conservative groups. as well as unions, perhaps reflecting her city post.

Harman has used her growing financial advantage to take the usually prohibitively expensive step of advertising on Los Angeles television network affiliates. She is also swamping the district with hard-hitting mailings in the campaign’s final days.

Times researchers Murielle Gamache, Charlotte Huff and Michael Cheek contributed to this story.