Candidates and special interest groups are ramping up campaign spending in the OC Supervisors races ahead of the June 2 primary in an election season that’ll determine if Democrats hold the majority or Republicans take it back. 

Most of that money is headed toward South Orange County, where Democrat Supervisor Katrina Foley is running for reelection against Republican Assemblywoman Diane Dixon. 

The remaining money is heading toward the northern edge of the county, where four candidates are vying to replace outgoing Democrat Supervisor Doug Chaffee on the board, including two mayors, one member of the board of education and a La Habra city councilwoman. 

Sheriffs Union Backs Democrat Over Republican 

So far, the biggest spender across any county race has been the Association of Orange County Deputy Sheriffs union, which spent $213,000 advertising Foley as of April 23. 

That’s on top of the $222,000 Foley spent from her own campaign committee since the start of the year, with over $225,000 still left in her campaign account as of April 18. 

Her opponent Dixon spent $117,000 in that same window, and still has over $232,000 left in her account. 

But Dixon’s campaign has also been advertised by the Lincoln Club, a prominent conservative donor group in Orange County. 

Since the start of the year, the Lincoln Club’s spent over $36,000 advertising Dixon’s campaign. 

They’ve also spent over $18,000 supporting Lucy Vellema, an educator and school principal who’s also running for the seat and has not disclosed any fundraising of her own. 

The club also spent over $11,600 opposing Foley, bringing their total spending in the race to over $66,000. 

Candidates Spend Over Special Interests in Contested North OC Race 

Buena Park Mayor Connor Traut, who’s endorsed by the county Democratic Party, led the competition in spending for the 4th District supervisor’s race, spending over $136,000 since the start of this year, according to disclosures. 

He fundraised nearly $29,000 in that same time frame, and still has $117,000 in his campaign accounts as of April 18. 

Fullerton Mayor Fred Jung, who’s registered as no party preference and is endorsed by the Lincoln Club but hasn’t had his campaign advertised by them according to disclosures, raised over $58,000 since the start of the year and spent over $128,000 advertising his campaign in that same window according to disclosures. 

Jung was also sitting on over $347,000 still in his account as of April 18. 

La Habra City Councilwoman Rose Espinoza is running a largely self financed campaign, loaning herself $150,000 and receiving nearly another $44,000 in “nonmonetary contributions” from postcard printing at her nonprofit Rosie’s Garage. 

Altogether, she disclosed just under $194,000 of money invested in the race. 

Espinoza ran as a Democrat in her 2022 race for state assembly. 

County Board of Education trustee Tim Shaw, who’s endorsed by the county Republican Party, came in last in both spending and fundraising, disclosing over $14,000 spent on his campaign and over $16,000 in fundraising since the start of the year. 

But the National Association of Realtors also spent over $125,000 advertising his campaign through online videos and polling. 

Supervisor Vicente Sarmiento On Track to Outspend Opponents 

Sitting Supervisor Vicente Sarmiento, a Democrat, is the only candidate in the second district that’s disclosed any fundraising or spending. 

According to his disclosures, Sarmiento raised around $33,000 this year and used his existing funds to pay back over $100,000 to himself from loans he took out previously. 

He’s spent around $35,000 from his account, and still has over $125,000 on hand.

Noah Biesiada is a Voice of OC reporter. Contact him at nbiesiada@voiceofoc.org.