Force multipliers: How one donor network is pushing the envelope on California campaign money

  • 📰 CalMatters
  • ⏱ Reading Time:
  • 98 sec. here
  • 3 min. at publisher
  • 📊 Quality Score:
  • News: 43%
  • Publisher: 63%

Business Business Headlines News

Business Business Latest News,Business Business Headlines

ICYMI Govern For California is using a network of local chapters to amplify the influence of its donors on legislative races. Among the biggest beneficiaries so far is Assemblymember Robert Rivas, who wants to become the next Assembly speaker.

“This is totally different than anything I’ve seen before… It’s a very creative way to maximize electoral strength.”CalMatters spoke to eight campaign finance experts about Govern For California. Five said its chapter donation model represents something new in California electoral politics, and some found it concerning.

“It’s free speech,” said Stern. “It’s me coming along recommending that they support a certain candidate. You can’t stop me from making recommendations, as long as I’m not directing them.”to understand how they operate and their relationship to Crane and Rick Rivas. The majority did not respond and none agreed to be quoted.

Crane’s email highlighted specific contributions this year to an unnamed Assembly candidate from 16 union-sponsored committees, including four SEIU locals, and suggested that these committees — representing teachers, California State University faculty, nurses, steelworkers and other employees — were managing their spending in a manner comparable to the Govern For California network.

Oscar Lopez, political director for SEIU California, said its endorsement process involves members from each local affiliate meeting with candidates, asking questions and making recommendations to the state council in a “bottom-up process” that “puts workers in the center of decision-making.” Then, he said, locals can decide whether to contribute to those candidates endorsed by the council.

. Los Angeles used to have its own local committee, but it was renamed the Sierra Chapter in 2021. Its co-chairpersons are a married couple from Piedmont, a wealthy enclave surrounded by Oakland, voter registration records show.declined to be interviewed for this story, he initially agreed to field questions by email.

Govern For California first launched into California electoral politics in 2012, when it spent nearly $200,000 to influence a San Fernando Valley Assembly race, supporting Democrat Brian Johnson, a charter school executive director, against another Democrat, Adrin Nazarian. Nazarian won and is retiring from the Assembly this year. , which are not covered by donation and spending limits but cannot be coordinated with a candidate’s campaign. It also bundled contributions from major donors.

 

Thank you for your comment. Your comment will be published after being reviewed.
Please try again later.
We have summarized this news so that you can read it quickly. If you are interested in the news, you can read the full text here. Read more:

 /  🏆 261. in BUSİNESS

Business Business Latest News, Business Business Headlines

Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.

Small business owners worry about plan to redevelop the iconic San Marcos restaurant rowThe new owner of San Marcos' famed Old California Restaurant Row has unveiled plans for redevelopment, leaving several of the current tenants fearing they will be forced to move out or close. The place hasn’t been the same since Bruno’s closed. Was the best Italian food in the county. What a shame! There are not many restaurants to choose from as it is and those three story condos with a business floor are trendy but useless. We are still open at Old California Coffee House 🤍☕️
Source: 10News - 🏆 732. / 50 Read more »