Outside groups and special interests have set their sights on three Assembly races in Orange County, pouring oodles of money into mailers, advertisements and consultancy efforts to support and oppose the candidates vying for them.
Throughout this election season, outside groups have spent more than $20 million to support and oppose candidates running in just three Assembly district races in Orange County, in addition to the millions those candidates’ campaigns have raised by themselves.
And while this year’s election cycle has shaped up to be a referendum on the power money has in American politics at the national level, the financial weight behind candidates running for seats in the state legislature should be a signal to voters that outside groups believe their representation is for sale, says one political science professor.
Voters in Assembly District 67, which covers portions of Los Angeles and Orange counties, including Artesia, Cerritos, Cypress, Buena Park, Fullerton and West Anaheim, will choose between former Cypress Mayor Paulo Morales, a Republican, and Democrat Mark Pulido, mayor pro tem for the city of Cerritos. The two are vying for the seat currently held by Assemblymember Sharon Quirk-Silva, who is termed out of office.
