News: A late surge of outside money in Sacramento

Monday, October 17, 2022

A late surge of outside money in Sacramento

Oct 17, 2022

By Jeremy B. White , Lara Korte , Sakura Cannestra and Owen Tucker-Smith

Presented by YES on 26, NO on 27 - Coalition for Safe, Responsible Gaming

THE BUZZ: The money is coming from outside the people's house.

Nothing signifies the climax of campaign season quite like the inevitable surge of independent expenditures. Unencumbered by the individual donation limits that apply to candidates' campaign accounts, a constellation of committees funded by a cross-section of Sacramento interest groups have uncorked millions in the last month to shape the contents of the next Legislature. By our count on Friday afternoon, they have spent roughly $17 million since September. About a third of that emerged in the last week.

They're spending money in competitive districts. They're spending money to boost one Democrat against a same-party rival, perhaps perceiving that contender to be more sympathetic to real estate interests, organized labor, the oil industry, dialysis companies, the medical field, or charter schools. In some cases, the alignment can be hard to discern, as with the Hawaiian Gardens Casino investing hundreds of thousands of dollars in the Democratic Central Valley Sen. Melissa Hurtado and Democratic Senate contender Angelique Ashby. Some are boosting a single candidate; some span several contests.

The escalating expenditures coincide with ballots arriving at voters' homes — perhaps you've gotten yours, along with a stack of glossy mailers from groups with names like "Californians to Keep California Californiaing." More is surely coming. But here are some of the most prolific spenders as of Friday afternoon:

Coalition to Restore California's Middle Class: The oil industry's main campaign vessel has deployed nearly $5 million in the last week — this with the next Legislature poised to consider a windfall oil profits tax proposed by Gov. Gavin Newsom.

DaVita : The kidney dialysis giant has spent some $1.5 million since mid-September, looking to cultivate allies in the Legislature as it battles a third consecutive ballot initiative.

A patient undergoes dialysis

In this photo taken Monday, Sept. 24, 2018, Adrian Perez undergoes dialysis at a DaVita Kidney Care clinic in Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli) | Rich Pedroncelli/AP Photo

Keeping Californians Working: This business-backed committee has spent around $1 million since the end of September, drawing on funders like Uber, the pharmaceutical industry, Farmers Insurance, and Edison International.

Californians for Better Priorities: The medical sector has found its Democrat in Dr. Jasmeet Bains, who is contending with fellow Democrat Leticia Perez for the open AD-35. A committee funded by the medical field has spent some $825,000 for Bains, eclipsing an oil-funded committee backing Perez.

Fighting for Our Future: Real estate interests' committee has spent more than $800,000 since mid-September to push Democrat Angelique Ashby past Democrat Dave Jones or defeat Democrat Catherine Blakespear.

Families and Teachers United: Charter schools are playing heavily in this cycle, dropping about $675,000 since mid-September on Democrats and Republican state Sen. Brian Jones.

Building Safe and Healthy Communities: Two earlier funders on this list — charter schools and DaVita — have poured money into this committee, which has spent some $650,000 since mid-September.

California Labor and Business Alliance: Both Democrats and Republicans have benefited from the combined largesse of real estate groups, unionized correctional officers, Chevron, and PG&E, which backed a committee that has spent more than $650,000 since late September.

BUENOS DÍAS, good Monday morning. Campaign season is continuing to bring national figures to California, with former Vice President Mike Pence set to appear at an event with Rep. David Valadao today. Pence campaigned for Orange County Republican Scott Baugh yesterday. And while it's not a campaign event, mayoral candidate Rep. Karen Bass will get some public time with VP Kamala Harris — who has endorsed Bass — at an LA event on reproductive rights.

Got a tip or story idea for California Playbook? Hit us up: jwhite@politico.com and lkorte@politico.com or follow us on Twitter @JeremyBWhite and @Lara_Korte .

Send us your political mailers! We're looking to bring more transparency to the elections process. How you can help: Send us photos of the campaign ads you've gotten in the mail. You can upload photos here or email them to mailers@politico.com .

QUOTE OF THE DAY: "I am, as Martinez said, 'with the Blacks.' I am 'with the Blacks' because in Los Angeles County, Black people are victims of crime disproportionate to their population size." Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascón responds to a tape in which former City Council President Nury Martinez complained he supported Black residents, via the LATimes.

BONUS QOTD: "I hope that he comes to grips with reality." Rep. Karen Bass urging City Council Member Kevin de León to resign, via Boyle Heights Beat .

TWEET OF THE DAY:

Today's Tweet of the Day | Twitter

WHERE'S GAVIN? Nothing official announced

A message from YES on 26, NO on 27 - Coalition for Safe, Responsible Gaming:

Cardroom casinos have a well-documented history of flouting the law and have been fined millions of dollars for violating anti-money laundering laws, racketeering, and illegal gambling. Now, cardroom casinos and their gambling bankers are spending millions attacking California Indian tribes and tribal gaming. Hold these bad actors accountable! Get the Facts about Cardroom Casinos: www.FactsAboutCardrooms.com

Top Talkers

— "' We are sure we stopped another killing': Stockton police chief announces arrest in serial killings ," by the Record's Aaron Leathley and Angelaydet Rocha: "Stockton police have announced that an arrest has been made in connection with the serial killings in Stockton. Wesley Brownlee, 43, of Stockton has been taken into custody, Police Chief Stanley McFadden and other officials announced at a news conference Saturday, Oct. 15."

TAPE TAKEAWAYS — Los Angeles just got new political maps. A scandal could tear them up , by POLITICO's Jeremy B. White: Los Angeles' once-in-a-decade redistricting process is under new scrutiny after City Council members and a union leader were caught on tape discussing how to shape new boundaries in their interests at the expense of rivals while using offensive language and disparaging colleagues.

— " L.A.'s Black-Latino alliance has always been fragile. Can it survive racist recordings? " by the Los Angeles Times' Jessica Garrison, Ruben Vives, Marisa Gerber, Angel Jennings and David Zahniser: "[Jorge] Nuño said he too was sickened by the racism, but he said he was also struck by what the conversation revealed about the complex way politicians use race to exercise power in a sprawling multicultural city."

CAMPAIGN MODE

THE PAC TRACK— House Democrats retrench as GOP money floods the map , by POLITICO's Ally Mutnick and Sarrah Ferris: GOP Rep. Mike Garcia holds one of House Republicans' most vulnerable districts. But Democrats have barely spent a dime on TV to take him down. The decision, according to those involved, was driven by a relative lack of resources.

NEWSOM BACKS HERTZBERG — Gov. Gavin Newsom waded into a fiercely contested Democrat-on-Democrat race in Los Angeles, endorsing Sen. Bob Hertzberg to be county supervisor over West Hollywood Council Member Lindsey Horvath. Newsom has deflected questions about his Los Angeles mayor preferences by saying "I've tried to stay out of these Dem-on-Dem races" and likes both Rep. Karen Bass and billionaire Rick Caruso.

— " How many cops does Oakland need? These mayoral candidates say they know the answer ," by the San Francisco Chronicle's Sarah Ravani: "Half of the 10 candidates want to grow the police force. Six candidates said they would expand a new city program that sends civilians to respond to some 911 non-violent calls, in theory freeing up police to focus on violent crime."

POTUS IN TOWN — " Biden blasts prescription costs, supports Iranian demonstrators in OC visit ," by the Orange County Register's Kaitlyn Schallhorn: "President Joe Biden visited Southern California this week to tout his administration's efforts to combat inflation and cut down rising drug costs. But when he got to Orange County on Friday afternoon, the final leg of this three-day tour of the region, there was a message he didn't ignore."

— " Ricardo Lara would be a better California insurance commissioner, but we can't endorse him ," Opines the San Francisco Chronicle Editorial Board: "Financial savvy and unblemished ethics are at the top of the list for any candidate. Unfortunately, California's current commissioner, Ricardo Lara, the favorite in this race, is sorely lacking on ethics."

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CALIFORNIA AND THE CAPITOL CORRIDOR

STEP BACK— " How L.A. City Hall became so corrupt: A recent history of bribes, kickbacks, scandal, leaks ," by the Los Angeles Times' Grace Toohey: "City Hall is no stranger to scandal — with many elected leaders and officials still facing the fallout from prior missteps, including three current or former council members who have been charged with federal crimes."

— " Once seen as a trailblazer, Kevin de León tumbles after leaked racist tape ," by the Los Angeles Times' Melanie Mason: "De León's recollection of his swearing-in, much like other comments woven into the hour-plus recording, offers a window into his political ambition, personal grievance and decades-long project of solidifying Latino power."

— " Echoes of Latin American Racism Reverberate in the U.S. ," by the New York Times' Miriam Jordan: "The revelations did not feel unfamiliar to many community leaders and immigrants who have long faced discrimination in the United States at the hands of fellow Hispanic people who have carried the racist attitudes prevalent in Latin America to their new country."

— " Shasta Lake Helped Water California; Now Its Dryness Is a Threat to the State ," by the Wall Street Journal's Jim Carlton: "Federal water managers are now administering painful cuts in allotments to Shasta and other Central Valley Project reservoirs, putting at risk farmland which accounts for a critical part of California's $50 billion-a-year agriculture industry, disrupting supplies to large cities and small towns, and leaving less for fish."

CAD CONTERSY — " Coastal Commission approves plan to bury contaminated sediment in Newport Harbor ," by the Orange County Register's Brooke Staggs: "The California Coastal Commission on Friday approved plans to bury contaminated sediment in an underwater pit at the bottom of Newport Harbor — a plan that's drawn vocal opposition from some environmentalists and residents."

— " Latinas are an emerging force in Orange County politics ," by the Los Angeles Times' Gabriel San Román: "In Orange County this year, 26 Latinas are running for city council, school board or supervisor offices. That's a huge increase from a decade ago, when a handful of Latinas sought local office and only two won."

SEA SCARE — " We're Losing Our Marshlands and That Could Cost Us Our Homes ," by LX's Greg Bledsoe: "California is losing one of its only natural defenses to sea level rise. Over the past century, the state has lost most of its coastal marshlands, and rising sea levels could wipe out what's left."

— " In Sacramento, election officials register homeless to vote ," by the Associated Press' Sophie Austin: "As the number of people without housing continues to rise in many California cities, Sacramento County's elections agency is working to try to make sure those experiencing homelessness have a say in the electoral process by registering them to vote."

— " Swastikas at UC Davis the latest in Sacramento-area antisemitic acts: 'It just keeps happening ,'" by the Sacramento Bee's Rosalio Ahumada: "Hateful antisemitic images and slurs have been found in public places seven times in the past seven weeks in the Sacramento area, including drawings of Nazi swastikas discovered Thursday on the University of California, Davis campus."

BIDEN, HARRIS AND THE HILL

JUST AROUND THE CORNER — " Kamala Harris campaigns with Gretchen Whitmer in potential 2028 preview ," by the Los Angeles Times' Noah Bierman and Anumita Kaur: "Politicos watching Harris' and Whitmer's appearance together were interested in more than the governor's chances in next month's midterm elections."

A message from YES on 26, NO on 27 - Coalition for Safe, Responsible Gaming:

SILICON VALLEYLAND

BEING WATCHED — " Meta's VR Headset Harvests Personal Data Right Off Your Face ," by WIRED's Khari Johnson: "In November 2021, Facebook announced it would delete face recognition data extracted from images of more than 1 billion people and stop offering to automatically tag people in photos and videos."

— " State Department Urges Silicon Valley to Aid National Security Effort ," by the Wall Street Journal's Vivian Salama and Dustin Volz: "The State Department is expanding its outreach to U.S. technology firms to get them more involved in some of the world's top national security challenges, from the war in Ukraine to growing competition with China, U.S. officials said."

ELONLAND— " Elon Musk is under federal investigation for merger conduct, Twitter tells judge ," by Ars Technica's Jon Brodkin: "Elon Musk is being investigated over "conduct" related to his pending acquisition of Twitter, the company said in an October 6 court filing that was just made public yesterday.

STEP INSIDE THE WEST WING: What's really happening in West Wing offices? Find out who's up, who's down, and who really has the president's ear in our West Wing Playbook newsletter, the insider's guide to the Biden White House and Cabinet. For buzzy nuggets and details that you won't find anywhere else, subscribe today .

MEDIA MATTERS

— Gil Duran announced he's moving on from the San Francisco Examiner, where the former Gov. Jerry Brown aide had been a columnist.

MIXTAPE

HORSING AROUND — " A herd of wild horses just moved into this iconic California destination. No one knows what comes next ," by the San Francisco Chronicle's Kurtis Alexander.

— " Newsom blocks Manson follower Patricia Krenwinkel's 15th bid for parole ," by the Los Angeles Times' Gregory Yee.

— " After 12 years at the helm of Blue Diamond, Mark Jansen to step away from cooperative ," by the Sacramento Bee's Alex Muegge.

COASTAL CRYING — " These are the best places to cry in San Francisco ," by the San Francisco Chronicle's Vanessa Arredondo.

— " Trove of stolen photos reveals Oakland street life in the 1970s ," by SFGate's Liam O'Donoghue.

IN MEMORIAM

— " Hannah Beausang, former North Bay journalist, dies at 30 ," by the Press Democrat's Matt Brown: "As a brash 23-year-old with a penchant for storytelling, Hannah Beausang strode into the Petaluma Argus-Courier newsroom in December 2015 to claim a position as features editor."

BIRTHDAYS

TikTok's Michael Beckerman … (was Sunday): Ben Coffey Clark of Bully Pulpit Interactive ... (was Saturday): Haim Saban … Jose Villalvazo of Sen. Alex Padilla's (D-Calif.) office … Lionel Levine

A message from YES on 26, NO on 27 - Coalition for Safe, Responsible Gaming:

Cardroom casinos are contributing millions to politicians to curry political favors. These bad actor cardroom casinos have dished out more than $50,000,000 on contributions to politicians, party bosses and other political campaigns. It's time to finally crack down on cardroom casino's unlawful gambling and criminal activity.

Learn more about cardroom casinos: www.FactsAboutCardrooms.com