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WASHINGTON — In an election year when control of both houses of Congress is expected to be hotly contested, the race in California’s newly redrawn 7th District is attracting national attention. Earlier this week, The Hill newspaper in Washington, D.C., reported that when Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., and House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, swapped lists of 10 candidates they recommended for support by the other’s political action committee, or PAC, Rep. Dan Lungren, R-Gold River, was on Boehner’s list. Lungren is the incumbent for California’s 3rd Congressional District, but due to redistricting, he is running in the 7th District in 2012. According to Federal Election Commission records, Boehner’s PAC, the Freedom Project, contributed $5,000 to Lungren’s campaign in December. There is no listing for a contribution from the Bluegrass Committee, McConnell’s PAC, but if it contributed after Jan. 1, it will likely not be listed until April 15, when candidates file campaign finance reports for the first quarter. In addition, Lungren is one of a handful of candidates nationwide to receive support from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce through televised “voter education” ads. The chamber began airing ads in 16 states and 40 media markets last month. “American families deserve to know who has the courage to fight for job-creating policies in Washington and who is hurting their pocketbooks,” said U.S. Chamber President and CEO Tom Donohue in a prepared statement. “We’re asking the public to hold members of Congress accountable for their positions on Obamacare, job-killing regulations, energy security, and a culture of wasteful spending in Washington.” Lungren faces a stiff challenge from Elk Grove physician Ami Bera, who has attracted the attention of Democratic leadership as well. In 2011, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee contributed $15,500 to his campaign. PAC to the Future, which is associated with House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-San Francisco, gave Bera’s campaign $10,000 last year, according to FEC records. At the end of last year, Lungren’s campaign had $521,206 cash on hand and $13,784 in debt. Bera’s campaign had $918,874 cash on hand and owed $272,865, according to FEC filings. As of Dec. 31, 82 percent of Bera’s contributions came from individuals with another 14 percent from PACs. Individuals made up 55 percent of Lungren’s contributions, with PACs accounting for the remaining 45 percent. |