Pete Aguilar’s campaign surpasses $1 million in House race

Redlands Mayor Pete Aguilar has raised more than $1 million in his race for an open Inland Empire congressional district seat, his campaign reported Thursday.

The report, sent to the Federal Election Commission, showed Aguilar had $402,755 in the bank on May 14, the last day of the latest regular filing period.

During the period, which began April 1, Aguilar added $130,925 in fundraising. None of it was from his own checkbook or in loans.

Aguilar, a Democrat, is locked in a seven-way race to succeed Rep. Gary Miller (R-Rancho Cucamonga), who is retiring.

There are three others of his party in the contest for the 31st Congressional District, which leans Democratic despite electing Miller in 2012. They are Colton attorney Eloise Gomez Reyes, former Rep. Joe Baca of Rialto and San Bernardino city school board member Danny Tillman.

Three Republicans also are on the ballot--Lesli Gooch, a former aide to Miller, who has endorsed her; military veteran Paul Chabot and political consultant Ryan Downing.

Only those candidates who place first and second in the June 3 primary will advance to the November general election, regardless of party affiliation.

Two years ago, Aguilar narrowly missed getting on the fall ballot when he and three other Democrats splintered the vote, allowing two Republicans to advance.