Republican state Assemblyman Van Tran, who was recruited to run for California's 47th District, has been included in the National Republican Congressional Committee's "Young Guns" program, and posted $254,000 raised through June 30.
But Republican Quang X. Pham says he has no plans to give Tran a free pass in the primary.
"We're fundraising. We're going to events. We're meeting with officials. We're doing everything that we believe could show supporters, donors, and voters that I am a viable candidate for that district," said Pham, an author, entrepreneur and Marine veteran.
Pham has already begun adding personal funds to his campaign, which he expects to meet its goal of $250,000 raised through Sept. 30, the end of the next fundraising quarter.
Pham said he's showing people "if this candidacy is worth their investment or their contribution than it should definitely be worth my money."
The candidates are vying to take on Democratic Rep. Loretta Sanchez in the general election. Sanchez is serving her seventh term in Congress and has faced easy re-election contests in the Orange County-area district. George W. Bush narrowly carried the district in 2004, but Barack Obama received 60 percent there in 2008.
The NRCC has emphasized Tran's experience as well as his connections to the Vietnamese community, which has a base in the 47th District. But like Tran, Pham is also Vietnamese and could split support from the key ethnic group.
Sanchez, who is Hispanic, has also worked to advocate for the Vietnamese community. Hispanics comprise 65 percent of district residents, 17 percent are white and 14 percent are Asian, according to the 2000 census.
CQ Politics rates the race Democrat Favored.
To follow the 2010 House races, check out the CQ Politics election map
![[RSS]](http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/templates/images/rss_icon.gif){kind=icon}
![[ARCHIVES]](http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/templates/images/archives_icon.png){kind=icon}
Post A Comment