Salud’s 2015 Haul: $1.4M

Salud Carbajal on Monday cemented his status as the most prodigious fundraiser in the wide-open race to replace retiring Rep. Lois Capps, with a campaign adviser telling The Santa Barbara Independent the Democratic supervisor solicited $1.4 million in total contributions through the end of 2015.

More importantly, Carbajal now has $969,809.92 cash on hand, which strongly positions him for the June 7 primary, in which the top two finishers, regardless of party, will advance to the November general election.

Perceived as the strong front-runner in the so-called “insiders primary,” in which contenders quietly compete for money and key endorsements in advance of most voters beginning to focus on the race, Carbajal raised $346,204.82 in the final three months of the year.

“The outpouring of support for my campaign has been incredible,” Carbajal said in a prepared for release statement. “I am truly grateful to the many individuals who have contributed to this effort in the past year. I’m looking forward to a spirited campaign and sharing my vision for a stronger middle class with the families of the Central Coast.”

Other candidates fundraising totals will be posted as they become available.