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

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

Valadao’s opponent, Democrat Emilio Huerta is a former boardmember of the Self-Help Credit Union, a Durham, N.C.-based creditunion with almost $666 million in assets. The credit union also hasoffices in California. Among the credit union’s employees is JohnHerrrea, 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 asa farmer, he understands the need for access to low-cost credit forfarmers and small business owners.

Also last month, CULAC spent $500,000 on radio and televisionadvertising on behalf of Sen. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.). The ads focus onBlunt’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 behalfof several candidates and has continued to make directcontributions to the campaign committees of House and Senatecandidates.

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