Financial reports due Monday indicate the race for the 38th Assembly District indicate a serious challenger in the fundraising game for the June 2018 primary.

Three candidates have filed their intent to run: incumbent Assemblyman Dante Acosta, R-Santa Clarita; his primary opponent, Christy Smith, a Newhall School District board member; and Ben Pak, a field deputy for Senate President Pro Tem Kevin de Leon, D-Los Angeles, who’s outpaced Acosta and Smith in fundraising, as of the first reporting deadline, July 31.

Acosta’s ending cash for the period ending in July was $114,226.84; Smith’s fundraising total for the same period was $65,378.42; Pak’s total was $136,716.50, including $37,000 in loans from himself made in April.

Acosta had 110 contributors; Pak, a registered Democrat and Porter Ranch resident, had about 108 contributors in order to raise approximately $100,000 (not including a loan to himself); Smith got her total from about 90 contributors.

Acosta defeated Christy Smith, a registered Democrat and Newhall resident, by a margin of 52.9 to 47.1 in the General Election last November, after Smith defeated Acosta 44.6 to 36.1 in the June 2016 primary.

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