Rep. Sara Jacobs Continues Support for Partner’s Political Campaigns Despite Setbacks

Sara Jacobs, a Democratic heiress, and her family have reportedly invested over $200,000 into her boyfriend’s political career, despite a series of unsuccessful attempts and controversial stances that have left fellow Democrats hoping he steps down from a significant midterm contest.

Ammar Campa-Najjar, who is the grandson of a Palestinian militant killed by Israel, initially entered the political scene in 2018 by running for Congress in the eastern San Diego area. At the time, he aligned himself with Bernie Sanders’ progressive ideals.

Despite his efforts, Campa-Najjar was defeated by former Republican Rep. Duncan Hunter, even as Hunter faced federal indictment during the noteworthy “blue wave” of President Trump’s first term.

By 2020, Campa-Najjar had shifted his political approach dramatically. A public affairs consultant and Naval Reserve Officer since 2023, he held campaign events with a far-right supporter of the January 6th riot, expressed opposition to abortion and assault weapons bans, and pledged to investigate figures such as Barack Obama and Joe Biden.

In an extensive discussion with Justin Haskins of the controversial conservative group Defend East County, he stated, “I’m going to investigate Trump, Biden, Hillary — all of them.” Such drastic shifts in stance have left many Democrats perplexed and frustrated.

The head-scratching one-eighty has Dems rolling their eyes.

“The only cool thing about being a flip-flopper is wearing the shoes,” said Mike Trujillo, a Democratic consultant. “That’s the only thing he has going for him.”

But Campa-Najjar’s biggest asset is his heiress girlfriend — whose tech tycoon grandfather has an estimated net worth of $1.2 billion.

Jacobs, granddaughter of Qualcomm founder Irwin Jacobs and a congresswoman since 2021, has thrown her vast family fortune behind her fickle partner — even co-hosting a pricey campaign lunch with her grandfather, with tickets up to $7,000.

Campaign records show the loaded Jacobs clan — including the congresswoman’s grandfather, parents, uncles and siblings — showering Campa-Najjar’s current campaign for California’s 48th district, representing eastern San Diego.

The patient family has donated at least $73,000 since August.

At a September campaign event, he name-dropped his powerful girlfriend and decried “misinformation” about his positions.

“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,” he insisted.

“You guys know that. Okay?”

Jacobs and Campa-Najjar have been dating since around 2019, according to media reports.

The pair have reportedly shacked up at Jacob’s San Diego home and have been spotted at exclusive events like an annual Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee retreat in posh Torrey Pines.

The relationship has ruffled feathers among some in the San Diego Jewish community because Campa-Najjar, a Southern California native of mixed Mexican and Palestinian heritage, is the paternal grandson of Muhammad Youssef Al-Najjar — who co-founded Fatah, the Palestinian nationalist group, alongside Yasser Arafat.

Members of the Jacobs family also bankrolled Campa-Najjar’s failed bid in 2022 for mayor of nearby Chula Vista, when he was accused of “parachuting” into the town to run despite allegedly living at his girlfriend’s San Diego home.

He also briefly launched a bid for state Assembly in late 2020, raising $73,000 for an exploratory committee before dropping out.

Members of the Jacobs family gave $118,000 to his failed campaign for Chula Vista mayor, when he again ran as a liberal, losing to Republican John McCann in the heavily Democratic city.

Campa-Najjar was accused of dishonest tactics after he included a photo of himself with a woman and two young children, falsely presenting himself as a family man.

His shifting persona was so odd that the San Diego Union-Tribune branded him a “brazenly cynical ideological chameleon” — though the paper endorsed him over his Republican rival anyway.

He then allegedly stiffed a campaign contractor, Jaimey Sexton, who claims he failed to pay nearly $6,000 he’s owed to him since 2022

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

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

Since incumbent Rep. Darrell Issa announced his retirement, Campa-Najjar’s main rivals are Republican Jim Desmond and Democrat Marni von Wilpert, a San Diego city council member.

A group of Democrats is so alarmed by Campa-Najjar’s latest quixotic bid for Congress that they penned a letter urging other Dems not to endorse the three-time loser.

“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,” wrote San Diego County Dem official Lauren Cazares and other party leaders.

“It would be unfortunate if we were to not take back the House because someone was trying to impress her boyfriend,” added Trujillo, the Dem consultant.

Republicans are reportedly champing at the bit to run against the shapeshifting Campa-Najjar, who has curiously racked up endorsements from top Democrats like Rep. Eric Swalwell and Rep. Ted Lieu despite his checkered political history.

Trujullo chalked it up to his “proximity to [Jacobs].”

“She’s clearly whipping endorsements for him in this case and its working,” he said.

Jacobs’ spokesperson, Lauren McIlvaine, denied that she’d asked colleagues to endorse her beau.

“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,” she told The Post.

A GOP memo obtained by the Washington Examiner named Campa-Najjar as Republicans’ preferred candidate due to his losing record and inconsistent positions.

“Perennial loser Ammar Campa-Najjar has lost so many races that even the people closest to him know he’s a lost cause,” said Christian Martinez, spokesperson for the National Republican Congressional Committee.

Campa-Najjar did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Download The California Post App, follow us on social, and subscribe to our newsletters