Candidates in 2 Local Congressional Races Raising Huge Sums

Republican Rep. James E. Rogan of Glendale, locked in possibly the hottest congressional race in the nation, has raised almost $3.8 million for his campaign--widely believed to be the most of any House of Representatives candidate in this election cycle--according to documents due at the Federal Election Commission today.

The Democratic challenger for the 27th Congressional District seat, state Sen. Adam Schiff of Burbank, who finished ahead of Rogan in the March 7 blanket primary, had raised nearly $1.9 million by the end of the latest campaign reporting period, March 31. That is more than any other Democratic challenger to an incumbent House member so far.

Significantly, however, the two were nearly even in the amounts each had left to spend. Schiff reported $968,000 cash on hand, while Rogan reported $978,500, after having used much of his campaign chest on nationwide fund-raising appeals and local cable television ads during the primary.

In fund-raising for Los Angeles County’s other tough House contest, in the South Bay’s 36th Congressional District, Democratic challenger Jane Harman inched ahead of incumbent Rep. Steven T. Kuykendall (R-Rancho Palos Verdes), reports showed.

Harman, who previously held the seat, had raised $863,505 since jumping into the race in December and had $704,562 on hand by the end of the reporting period. Kuykendall had collected $821,474 through the end of March, but had just $367,495 left to spend.

During the primary, Harman concentrated on fund-raising and spent very little on campaigning. Kuykendall, anticipating a strong reelection challenge in his swing district and faced with a well-heeled Republican opponent in the primary, has had a campaign operation in place for more than a year.

Harman represented the politically moderate, Republican-leaning coastal district for three terms before giving up the seat to run for governor in 1998. Kuykendall, a former Rancho Palos Verdes councilman and a two-term assemblyman, defeated Democrat Janice Hahn that year, delivering the district into GOP hands. In the March primary, Kuykendall outpolled Harman 43%-41%.

The two congressional races are among a handful of contested seats in the nation that figure heavily in the Democrats’ campaign to gain control of the House this fall. Republicans currently hold a five-seat edge.

Although both races are drawing national attention and help from party leaders, the battle for the 27th District, in Los Angeles’ northeastern suburbs, is by far the more costly.

Rogan, whose district is increasingly tilting Democratic, angered Democrats--but endeared himself to Republicans and Clinton-haters--with his key role in the president’s impeachment trial last year.

Schiff’s campaign on Friday noted that Rogan already has spent three-fourths of the amount he has raised to date, leaving the two competitors about even in the amounts they currently have for their campaigns.

“It is amazing that Rogan has spent nearly $3 million in an uncontested primary, and all he has to show for it is a loss to Adam Schiff,” Schiff campaign consultant Parke Skelton said, referring to the blanket primary results.

Jason Roe, Rogan’s campaign manager, said most of the money went into fund-raising appeals, which he believes will pay off in an even bigger treasury shortly.

“I look on it as an investment,” Roe said. “There is no way that Schiff is going to be able to keep up.”