Duncan Hunter and his wife are facing charges of misusing more than $250,000 in campaign funds for personal use and then trying to cover up the expenses. They have both pleaded not guilty. But the indictment has rattled the 50th Congressional District race.
RELATED: US Rep. Duncan Hunter, Wife, Indicted On Corruption Charges
Political scientists say even with an indictment the Republican incumbent Duncan Hunter is expected keep his current seat in Congress during the midterm election.
“It’s still very likely he will win in that district because it’s so heavily Republican and his name will be on the ballot," said Carl Luna, a professor of political science at San Diego Mesa College.
Despite predictions, Democratic challenger, Ammar Campa-Najjar, is fighting for the seat with a 30-second ad slated to start running Thursday. It highlights details in Hunters’ federal indictment and encourages voters to read it for themselves.
A hard-hitting ad mixed with an indictment has the White House unsure of Republican midterm wins, including one in the 50th. In a tweet Monday, President Trump lashed out at Attorney General Jeff Sessions for recent indictments.
Two long running, Obama era, investigations of two very popular Republican Congressmen were brought to a well publicized charge, just ahead of the Mid-Terms, by the Jeff Sessions Justice Department. Two easy wins now in doubt because there is not enough time. Good job Jeff......
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 3, 2018
With a nervous White House, Luna says if the 50th is ever flipped, now may be the time.
“The Democrats really do have their best shot ever to get that seat but that would require a perfect storm of really big Democratic turnout and a lot of depressed Republicans not showing up. National politics will play into this with the presidential issues and possibly impeachment."
Though unexpected, the midterms could usher in changings of the guard.
Hunter does not currently have any ads running on TV. He and his wife are expected to have a motion-setting hearing Tuesday.
Rep. Duncan Hunter Responds To Allegations Of Campaign Corruption
