O.C. Republicans Enjoy Huge Edge

In Orange County, incumbent Republican congressmen were outspending their opponents by overwhelming margins, as were two Republican candidates running in open congressional races.

Rep. Robert K. Dornan (R-Garden Grove) was the champion Orange County fund-raiser, netting about $1.1 million in contributions between Jan. 1, 1991, and Oct. 15 of this year. Dornan spent almost $1.17 million, and ended the period with $82,673 in cash on hand. He reported debts of $83,170. Dornan had faced a tough challenge in the June 2 party primary.

Dornan’s Democratic opponent in the 46th Congressional District, Robert John Banuelos, has not filed any campaign finance reports with the Federal Election Commission, indicating that he has raised less than $5,000. The Libertarian candidate in the race, Richard G. Newhouse, also has failed to file reports with the FEC.

In the 41st District, which straddles Los Angeles, Orange and San Bernardino counties, Diamond Bar Mayor Jay C. Kim, the Republican candidate, raised $484,576 and spent $546,640, much of it in a hotly contested party primary. Kim reported $101,913 in cash on hand as of Oct. 15, and debts totaling $163,000. His Democratic opponent, Bob Baker, has not filed any campaign finance reports, indicating that he has raised less than $5,000.

Rep. Christopher Cox (R-Newport Beach), running in the 47th District, raised $395,476 and spent $233,370, his reports said. Cox had $81,865 in cash as of Oct. 15, and reported no debt. Neither Democrat John F. Anwiller nor Peace and Freedom Party candidate Maxine B. Quirk filed finance reports with the FEC.

In the Fullerton-based 39th District, Republican state Sen. Edward R. Royce of Anaheim has raised $388,914 and spent $375,955, according to FEC records. Royce reported $75,000 in cash on hand as of Oct. 15, and debts of $29,500.

Royce’s opponent, Democrat Molly McClanahan, raised $49,978 and spent $50,886 during the same period, according to FEC records. McClanahan’s reports said her campaign had $5,837 in cash on hand on Oct. 15, and debts totaling $1,200. Libertarian John Harris Dean did not filed any FEC reports.

Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-Huntington Beach), running in the 45th Congressional District, raised $244,450 and spent $269,228, much of it in the Republican primary. Rohrabacher had $47,716 in cash and $13,600 in debts at the end of the Oct. 15 reporting period.

Rohrabacher’s Democratic opponent, Patricia McCabe, raised $23,704 and spent $14,163, according to her FEC reports. McCabe reported $11,183 in cash on hand and debts of $1,642. Libertarian Gary D. Copeland did not file any FEC reports.

In the 48th District, which includes south Orange County, Rep. Ron Packard (R-Oceanside) raised $232,528 and spent $269,149. Packard reported $135,712 in cash on hand and no debt.

His Democratic challenger, businessman Mike Farber, had raised $62,066 and spent $62,813 as of Sept. 30, the last period for which Farber’s campaign filed a report. Farber had $502 in cash at the end of the Sept. 30 reporting period. Neither Libertarian Ted Lowe nor Peace and Freedom Party candidate Donna White filed FEC reports.