“CLF is investing in this race because we believe with a highly-targeted, surgical approach we can make a real difference,” the group’s president, Dan Conston, said in a statement. “Californians need the proven and steady leadership of Navy fighter pilot Mike Garcia to lead our country out of these turbulent times — not another career politician only looking out for herself, like Christy Smith.”

Smith called similar attacks on her education record from the National Republican Congressional Committee misleading. Smith's campaign has noted that layoff notices were issued to teachers in 2010 after school budgets were cut due to the recession, but the teachers that were issued the notices were eventually rehired. Marc Winger, the superintendent of Newhall School District at the time noted that the school board voted unanimously to issue layoff notices and furlough staff for "short periods" and the votes were "fiscally conservative actions that were necessary under very difficult circumstances."

Smith also has the backing of several teacher unions, including the the National Education Association, California Teachers Association, California School Employees Association, California Federation of Teachers, and Education Workers United.

CLF’s effort underscores how important the 25th District seat, which Hill won in 2018 by defeating Republican Rep. Steve Knight by 9 percentage points, is to the GOP. Since the March 3 primary, both the NRCC and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee have aired ads in the expensive Los Angeles media market focused on the race.

Knight’s loss in 2018 came two years after Hillary Clinton beat Donald Trump in the 25th District by 7 points. Inside Elections with Nathan L. Gonzales rates the race Likely Democratic.