Sara Jacobs has poured more than $200,000 of family money into her boyfriend Ammar Campa-Najjar’s repeated bids for office, yet his string of losses, shifting positions, and unpaid bills keep raising questions about money, judgment, and influence in Democratic politics.

Democratic Rep. Sara Jacobs, heir to Qualcomm founder Irwin Jacobs, has repeatedly backed Ammar Campa-Najjar with substantial family donations even as he keeps losing races. He has run for multiple offices, including eastern San Diego in 2018 and a Chula Vista mayoral race in 2022, without ever winning. The pattern looks less like momentum and more like a well-funded hobby campaign that voters consistently reject.

Campa-Najjar’s political history reads as a series of position reversals and strange alliances that confuse voters and energize critics. In 2020 he appeared at an event with a Jan. 6 rioter and voiced opposition to abortion restrictions and assault weapons bans at different times, creating a narrative of flip-flopping. That inconsistency has undercut his credibility even among Democrats who prefer a steady message.

“I’m going to investigate Trump, Biden, Hillary — all of them.”

After losing his first contests, he briefly explored a state Assembly bid and raised $73,000 for an exploratory committee before dropping out, then lost the Chula Vista mayoral race to Republican John McCann. During that mayoral campaign he was accused of misrepresenting his personal life by using a photo that suggested he was a family man. Four bids, zero wins, and the same bankroll keep showing up on the donation ledger.

The Jacobs family’s backing has been steady and substantial. Sara Jacobs has co-hosted high-dollar fundraisers with her grandfather Irwin, whose estimated net worth is roughly $1.2 billion, and the family has funneled tens of thousands to Campa-Najjar’s campaigns. Reports show at least $73,000 has been donated to his current campaign and $118,000 to the unsuccessful Chula Vista run, adding up to over $200,000 in support tied to the family.

Endorsements and internal pressure have followed the money. Prominent Democrats like Reps. Eric Swalwell and Ted Lieu have publicly supported Campa-Najjar, and that mix of high-profile backers and family cash has created friction inside the party. Sara Jacobs’ spokesperson insists she did not ask colleagues for endorsements and says she explicitly told them not to endorse because of her, aiming to avoid any perception of pressure.

“She hasn’t asked her colleagues for endorsements — in fact, she’s told her colleagues explicitly not to endorse because of her, so there’s no ambiguity, pressure, or sense of obligation.”

Not everyone accepts that explanation. Democratic consultant Mike Trujillo argued the opposite, claiming active endorsement requests were happening and that the strategy was working to gather support. Households and voters watching this see a candidate buoyed more by family wealth than by demonstrated voter appeal or policy achievements.

Criticism from within Campa-Najjar’s own party has been particularly pointed. San Diego County Democratic official Lauren Cazares co-authored a letter urging Democrats not to endorse him, arguing his repeated losses stem from a lack of consistent principles. That kind of intra-party rebuke is unusual and signals deeper concerns about electability and messaging.

“Ammar’s repeated defeats have compounded a troubling pattern: a lack of clear principles Democrats can unite behind and a tendency to tell different groups whatever they want to hear.”

Colorful takes have followed. Trujillo mocked Campa-Najjar’s habit of shifting stances: “The only cool thing about being a flip-flopper is wearing the shoes.” He added bluntly, “That’s the only thing he has going for him.” Such remarks underline how damaging a reputation for inconsistency can be in a competitive district.

At a recent event Campa-Najjar tried to square his positions and pushed back against claims of inconsistency, invoking his relationship as proof of commitment on social issues. On abortion he told supporters,

“I believe every woman has a right to choose what to do with her own body. Sara would not be with me if that were not true.”

That line — saying a romantic relationship proves ideological sincerity — struck many as both odd and insufficient. It illustrates how personal ties have become entangled with political messaging in a way that does not substitute for policy clarity or voter trust.

Financial questions go beyond donation totals. A campaign contractor, Jaimey Sexton, says Campa-Najjar owes nearly $6,000 for work dating to 2022, calling out the apparent contradiction between heavy family support and unpaid bills. Sexton’s remarks put a spotlight on basic campaign stewardship and whether donors or candidates are managing funds responsibly.

“Sara [Jacobs] can stop by the ATM, take out $6,000 and pay me.”

“If you can’t pay his bills, how can you be be responsible for our money as a congressman?”

With the 48th district open after Rep. Darrell Issa’s retirement, Campa-Najjar faces Republican Jim Desmond and Democrat Marni von Wilpert. The National Republican Congressional Committee called out his track record sharply, framing him as a perpetual candidate who keeps failing to win. That line of attack rests on a simple point: repeated losses matter.

“Perennial loser Ammar Campa-Najjar has lost so many races that even the people closest to him know he’s a lost cause.”

Democratic voices warn that dynastic spending and personal motivations can cost larger strategic goals. “It would be unfortunate if we were to not take back the House because someone was trying to impress her boyfriend,” Trujillo said, tying the controversy to broader stakes for the party. For voters in eastern San Diego, the recurring question is whether family money can buy a victory the electorate has repeatedly denied.