Rep. David Schweikert turns to impeachment foe Rep. Devin Nunes for fundraising help

Looking to jump start his laggard campaign, Rep. David Schweikert turned to one of the key Republicans opposing the impeachment inquiry, with Rep. Devin Nunes headlining a fundraiser in Paradise Valley.

Nunes, a California Republican, is the ranking member of the House Intelligence Committee probing President Donald Trump's dealings with Ukraine. He is a staunch Trump ally, and has reliably cast the inquiry as a "hoax" similar to the probe of Russian interference in the 2016 election.

Nunes told KFYI (550 AM) he came to Arizona at the request of Republican Reps. Andy Biggs and Debbie Lesko, as well as Schweikert, R-Ariz.

The fundraiser came as the Intelligence Committee is poised to formally send its impeachment report to the House Judiciary Committee on Tuesday.

The Arizona Republic's requests for comment from Schweikert's campaign about the fundraiser were not successful.

The five-term incumbent in the 6th Congressional District no doubt would welcome additional cash to help reverse a series of underwhelming campaign finance reports throughout the year that have been further drained by legal expenses related to the investigation of him before the House Ethics Committee.

Records from the Federal Election Commission show Schweikert is among the worst-funded GOP members facing significant challenges in 2020. Only six House incumbents among the 80 rated with competitive challenges have raised less money than Schweikert. Of those, only Rep. Steve King, R-Iowa, has less cash on hand.

Democrat Hiral Tipirneni has outraised Schweikert since she entered the race in February, and several other Democrats are also vying for Schweikert's seat.

Through September, Schweikert had just $144,000 in cash, the least of any Arizona incumbent. Tipirneni reported having $603,000. He raised $136,000 in the third quarter of the year, which was less than half the $333,000 Tipirneni pulled in.

Democrats Anita Malik and Stephanie Rimmer have also raised a combined six figures in their party's primary race.

Schweikert's campaign also had more debt, $187,000, than cash. Schweikert is facing allegations of misspending by his campaign and his office.

His relatively affluent Scottsdale-based district is historically safe ground for Republicans, but Democrats now see it as a possible pick up opportunity, in part because that party has fared better with college-educated voters and because of Schweikert's troubles with the Ethics Committee.

Schweikert's campaign has downplayed his fundraising struggles and maintains he is well-positioned to win a sixth term in Washington next year.

Inside Elections, a nonpartisan organization rating House races across the country, recently downgraded Schweikert's chances, moving that contest from "solid Republican" to "likely Republican." It was one of a dozen House races that are seen as more difficult for the GOP in 2020 as Democrats look to expand their new majority.

Larry Sabato's Crystal Ball, part of the University of Virginia's Center for Politics, still rates Schweikert's race as "likely Republican." The nonpartisan Cook Political Report is less certain, rating it as "lean Republican."

While Schweikert continues to fend off allegations of misspending involving his former longtime chief of staff, Nunes, a nine-term Republican from California's Central Valley, has found himself newly facing ethics questions as well.

Rep. Adam Smith, D-Wash., and chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, predicted it was "quite likely, without question" that Nunes would face an ethics investigation after learning last month that Nunes allegedly met with a Ukrainian ex-prosecutor who is one of the peripheral figures in the ongoing impeachment inquiry.

Nunes has called the allegations "demonstrably false" and threatened to sue CNN, which first reported the story.

Reach the reporter Ronald J. Hansen at ronald.hansen@arizonarepublic.com or 602-444-4493. Follow him on Twitter @ronaldjhansen.

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