Rep. Mike Honda, left, though still trails
Ro Khanna’s $1.95 million cash on hand.

CONGRESS | 17TH DISTRICT | Despite an ethics inquiry still pending, contributors to Rep. Mike Honda’s campaign are helping him keep pace with his usually well-financed opponent Ro Khanna.

Honda raised $436,758 during the first quarter of the year, through Mar. 31. The number barely eclipsed Khanna’s $426,982 during the same period.
Monday’s disclosure follows a familiar script to their first campaign two years ago when Khanna greatly outraised the Democratic incumbent early while Honda played catch through the first half of the election year.
The Honda campaign took the opportunity to boast about the finance reports in a statement.

“Even with the help of right wing millionaires and billionaires, our opponent wasn’t able to keep up with our outpouring support from across the district,” said Michael Beckendorf, Honda’s campaign manager.

Khanna, however, still holds a large lead in cash on hand, according to campaign finance reports. Through the end of last month, Khanna’s campaign coffers hold $1.95 million in reserves. Honda’s campaign reported $792,208 in the bank, through March. The spread is similar to 2015 year-end figures.

Finance reports also showed Khanna is maintaining his pledge not to accept contributions from political action committees. Honda reported $92,700 in contributions from PACs during the first quarter and more than $407,000 during the current election cycle.

Honda’s ability to post healthy fundraising numbers is notable since a common narrative fostered by Khanna surrogates has questioned whether institutional support for Honda was foundering under the cloud of a pending investigation against him by the Office of Congressional Ethics. The investigation is centered on the alleged blurring of the job duties between Honda’s official and campaign staffs.