Ammar Campa-Najjar hits comeback trail

Indivisible members rallying Thursday, Jan. 3, 2019 outside Temecula office of federally indicted Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-50th Congressional District/Tami Simms

Ammar Campa-Najjar makes it official

Ammar Campa-Najjar at recent rally/Facebook

It’s official, Campa-Najjar is back in the race to replace the disgraced, and clinging to a real person’s job in Congress, Duncan “Friggin'” Hunter.

Campa-Najjar this week filed to run against Hunter in California’s 50th Congressional District in 2020, should Hunter even make it that far.

Hunter’s date with campaign finance fraud destiny at Federal Court in September may result in prison time along with a hefty fine. Same for his seemingly estranged wife Margaret, who Hunter threw under the bus in his own defense.

Following social media messaging, Campa-Najjar filed a statement of candidacy form with the Federal Election Commission on Monday declaring his intention to run again. Campa-Najjar cut points over Hunter’s June lead to out-pefrorm and come up a few thousand votes short.

The sharks of time and truth are circling the Hunter political crime family — his dad Duncan Hunter was named the most corrupt member of Congress by the non-partisan ,non-profit Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics (CREW).

According to Roll Call, Campa-Najjar telegraphed his candidacy in an earlier tweet in which he compared his race to former Rep. Beto O’Rourke’s failed bid to unseat Sen. Ted Cruz in Texas. The candidates lost by similar margins.

Hunter represents a political dynasty in the ruby red 50th District — which encompasses suburbs of San Diego — that stretches back nearly four decades. President Donald Trump carried his district by 15 points in 2016, but Hunter outperformed the president that cycle, trouncing his opponent by 27 points.

But his margin of victory narrowed dramatically in 2018 to just 3 points.

Attorney Alan L. Geraci points to Hunter sign outside congressman’s Temecula offic this week./Diana Finks

The Republican was hurt by an indictment in August alleging he used $250,000 in campaign funds for personal expenses ranging from tequila shots to dental work. He faces 60 federal charges. His trial is scheduled to begin in Septem

House Republicans took up rules barring members facing serious legal issues from committee work. If found guilty of a felony, congressional rules would also forbid Hunter from casting votes.

Matt Rahn, outgoing mayor of Temecula, will also run for the 50th District seat, the Times of San Diego reported.

Rahn described Hunter’s legal troubles as motivating his decision to enter the race.

“There’s an opportunity to let this play out in the courts and I am interested in seeing the results just like everyone else is,” he said in an interview with Valley News. “I don’t need to get involved in an area that has good representation, and I don’t need to be there upset the apple cart, so to speak.”

Rally outside Hunter office at Temecula Thursday Jan. 3, 2019/Facebook

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