Fundraising points to close Valley legislative battle in November

With months to go before the November general election, campaign finance reports for the first half of 2024 are offering some early insight into the state of play for campaigns heading down the stretch to November.

Here’s a look at where the contenders for the Valley’s hotly-contested legislative seats stack-up for the fundraising period that covers the first half of 2024: 

Assembly District 8

• Primary election leader, former Rep. George Radanovich (R–Mariposa) started the first half of the year with $42,881 on-hand and picked up $159,600 through June 30.

• After spending $91,161 during the first half, Radanovich closed out at $114,288 on-hand to start the Fall campaign. He’s reported $9,804.33 in debt in his Assembly committee and another $103,123.45 in debt from his failed 2022 bid for the State Senate.

• Business owner and Fresno County rep David Tangipa (R–Fresno) started the period with $30,003 and closed the first half with $222,174 raised.

• Tangipa reported spending $113,420.81 over the first half, closing the period at $140,436 on-hand.

Assembly District 27

• First-term Assemblywoman Esmeralda Soria (D–Fresno), who finished a surprising second in the March 5 primary, roared through the first half of 2024 hauling in an eye-popping $2.52 million through June 30.

• The lawmaker spent $1.13 million over the same period, and closed out June 30 with $1.5 million on-hand.

• Soria’s opponent this fall, Republican Joanna Garcia Rose (R–Atwater) hauled in $122,512 for the first half of the year and spent $68,819, leaving her with $65,499 on-hand.

Assembly District 33

• Businesswoman Alexandra Macedo (R–Tulare), the primary winner in the race to replace outgoing Asm. Devon Mathis (R-Tulare), hauled in $522,750 for the first half of the year and spent $327,981.

• She closed starts the second half of the year with $222,731 on-hand.

• Macedo’s rival in the fall campaign, fellow Republican and dairy farmer Xavier Avila (R–Tulare), raised $20,300 in the first-half of the year, and spent $56,328. He has $573 on-hand to start the second half of 2024.