Incumbent Maintains Wide Lead in Fund-Raising Over Challenger in Downey Court Race—Reports 

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Jesus "Jesse" Rodriguez continues to outspend and outraise challenger Kirt J. Hopson in his bid for election to a full term on the newly unified trial court, campaign reports show.

Rodriguez' report, received yesterday by the registrar's office, shows that he raised nearly $15,000 in the first three weeks of this year, bringing his total fundraising to more than $75,000. He spent $18,000 in the same period—the bulk of it going to buy his way onto seven slate mailers—leaving him with more than $57,000 for the last weeks of the campaign.

Hopson, by contrast, raised $5,000 and spent $12,000 in the same period. Since he had $15,000 on had at the end of last year, his cash on hand is less than $9,000.

Rodriguez and Hopson are running in the former Downey Municipal Court district, and the race will be listed as a municipal court contest because the trial courts unified after the race was already underway. But the winner will be sworn in as a Superior Court judge in January.