These five California State Assembly candidates raised the most money and lost their primary


General elections for all 80 seats in the California State Assembly will take place on November 8, 2022. State Assembly open primary elections were held on June 7, 2022.

This article details the five candidates who raised the most money and lost their primary election. The losing candidates are shown along with the percentage of the vote they received compared to the vote percentages for both advancing candidates.

Top fundraisers with unsuccessful primary campaigns this cycle

This information comes from candidate reports to the California Secretary of State covering the period of January 1, 2021, through June 7, 2022.

The candidates who raised the most money and lost their primary were:

  • Jennifer Esteen (D) – $435,590 – District 20 (Lost primary 22% – 32%, 24%)
  • Kansen Chu (D) – $423,081 – District 24 (Lost primary 18% – 38%, 21%)
  • Andrea Rosenthal (D) – $300,862 – District 39 (Lost primary 22% – 30%, 38%)
  • Kimberly Ho (R) – $294,090 – District 70 (Lost primary 14% – 21%, 40%)
  • Elizabeth Alcantar (D) – $246,022 – District 64 (Lost primary 17% – 23%, 33%)

Top fundraisers with unsuccessful primary campaigns last cycle

This information comes from candidate reports to the California Secretary of State covering the period of January 1, 2019, through December 31, 2020.

The candidates who raised the most money and lost their primary in 2020 were:

  • Tyler Diep (R) – $769,135 – District 72 (Lost primary 25% – 26%, 34%)
  • Sylvia Rubio (D)- $390,040 – District 57 (Lost primary 17% – 20%, 29%)
  • Anne Kepner (D) – $369,110 – District 25 (Lost primary 14% – 15%, 21%)
  • William Brough (R) – $360,623 – District 73 (Lost primary 17% – 27%, 24%)
  • Christina Fugazi (D) – $264,882 – District 13 (Lost primary 32% – 32%, 36%)

The data above are based on campaign finance reports that active California PACs submitted to the California Secretary of State. Federal PACs are not required to report to state agencies. Transparency USA publishes campaign finance data following major reporting deadlines. State or federal law may require filers to submit additional reports.

Report NameDue Date
Semiannual1/31/2022
1st Pre-Election – Primary4/28/2022
2nd Pre-Election – Primary5/26/2022
Semiannual8/1/2022
1st Pre-Election – General9/29/2022
2nd Pre- Election – General10/27/2022
Semiannual1/31/2023

This article is a joint publication from Ballotpedia and Transparency USA, who are working together to provide campaign finance information for state-level elections. Learn more about our work here.