Photo Credit: Getty Images
NEWPORT BEACH (CNS) - Vice President Mike Pence is scheduled to headline a fundraising luncheon in Newport Beach today to benefit seven House Republicans from California targeted by Democrats in the 2018 midterm elections.
The luncheon at the Resort at Pelican Hill will benefit California Victory 2018, a joint fundraising committee for Reps. Darrel Issa of Vista, Dana Rohrabacher of Huntington Beach, Mimi Walters of Irvine, Ed Royce of Brea, Steve Knight of Palmdale, David Valadao of Hanford and Jeff Denham of Turlock, according to one of the organizers, Republican National Committee member Shawn Steel.
The fundraiser was scheduled for last month but was delayed when Pence went to Florida following Hurricane Irma.
Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton carried all seven districts in last year's presidential election.
Steel said he was excited about the fundraiser and noted how Pence, when he was in Congress, drove a mile in the rain as a favor to Rohrabacher to attend a fundraiser for Steel's wife, Orange County Board of Supervisors Chairwoman Michelle Steel, who was then running for a seat on the Board of Equalization.
``I never forgot that,'' Steel said.
Costa Mesa City Councilman Jim Righeimer is planning to attend the fundraiser.
``I met (Pence) back when he was a congressman, actually,'' Righeimer said. ``He's very personable, very down to earth -- someone you'd expect out of a Midwestern state.''
House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Bakersfield, will also speak the event.
``I've known Kevin since we were both young Republicans when his hair wasn't gray yet and I didn't have a bald spot,'' Righeimer said.
Following the Newport Beach fundraiser, Pence is to fly to Sacramento, where he will join McCarthy to meet with area business owners, community leaders and families ``to discuss the need for tax reform,'' according to the White House.
Pence was to participate in what his office would only describe as a ``political reception'' at a ``Los Angeles location'' Sunday, which was to be closed to reporters, like many political fundraisers for both parties.
There was no immediate response to an email sent to an aide to Pence seeking confirmation of his participation in the reception.
The Los Angeles Times reported the reception was held at the Beverly Hills home of developer Geoff Palmer.