In the closing days of the campaign CULAC, the political action committee run by CUNA, has made independent expenditures on behalf of three candidates, including Rep. David Valadao (R-Calif.) whose opponent is a former credit union board member.

During the past month, CULAC spent almost $217,000 on radio advertising and direct mail on behalf of Valadao, who was first elected in 2012, according to the Center for Responsive Politics, which keeps tabs on independent spending. The district is considered to be strongly Republican.

Valadao’s opponent, Democrat Emilio Huerta is a former board member of the Self-Help Credit Union, a Durham, N.C.-based credit union with almost $666 million in assets. The credit union also has offices in California. Among the credit union’s employees is John Herrrea, a senior vice president for Latino and Hispanic Affairs, who has been nominated for a seat on the NCUA board.

In the advertising on Valadao’s behalf, CULAC emphasizes that as a farmer, he understands the need for access to low-cost credit for farmers and small business owners.

Also last month, CULAC spent $500,000 on radio and television advertising on behalf of Sen. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.). The ads focus on Blunt’s sponsorship of identity threat legislation.

Jason Kander is the Democrat running against Blunt.

CULAC also spent $140,000 on behalf of Democrat Kim Myers, running for an open House seat in New York.

Earlier this year, CULAC made independent expenditures on behalf of several candidates and has continued to make direct contributions to the campaign committees of House and Senate candidates.

CULAC estimated that it will spend some $6 million on those candidates this election year, making it one of the largest political action committees in the nation. And the committee is supporting some 361 candidates—169 Democrats and 192 Republicans. It is supporting candidates in 333 House races and 28 races in the Senate.

Instant Insights /

CULAC Continues Independent Spending in House, Senate Races

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