Trump’s awkward fundraising swing

Presented by Amazon: Inside the Golden State political arena

Jun 04, 2024 View in browser   By Lara Korte and Dustin Gardiner Presented by  Former President Donald Trump's hush money trial conviction could put vulnerable California Republicans in a tough spot as he returns to the state this week for a series of fundraisers. | Alex Kent for POLITICO THE BUZZ: FELONIOUS TRUMP — It’s about to get way harder for California’s vulnerable Republicans to avoid Donald Trump. The former president comes to California this week for his first fundraising tour since the historic verdict that found him guilty on all 34 charges in a hush money trial. He’ll stop by San Francisco on Thursday to court tech investors at the home of venture capitalist David Sacks, where tickets range from $50,000 for individuals to $500,000 for couples. He’ll then head down to fundraisers in Beverly Hills and Newport Beach. It’s routine for presidential candidates to make cash swings through the wealthy pockets of the Golden State. But the attention on Trump’s visit is heightened by his recent convictions — and the fact that California Republicans have stayed relatively quiet following the verdict, as Melanie Mason and Nick Reisman report today. Two California Republicans in tough races — Riverside County Rep. Ken Calvert and Scott Baugh, who is running for an open Orange County seat — made statements in the immediate aftermath of the verdicts decrying the prosecutions as having partisan motivations. But the instinct among other swing-seat Republicans over the past five days has been to say nothing at all. California GOP Reps. Mike Garcia, Michelle Steel, and David Valadao have laid low since the verdicts, despite multiple requests to their campaigns for comment. Rep. John Duarte, who is running for reelection in a closely-contested Central Valley seat, broke his silence Sunday morning in an interview with a local TV station, saying he was “disappointed with the whole prosecution.” Trump’s convictions represent a tricky calculus for the handful of California candidates who could decide control of the House come November. If they come out in support of Trump, they run the risk of alienating some of the swing voters that could decide the race. If they say nothing, they could be subjected to a public flogging from Trump world, similar to the one doled out to former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan after he urged Americans to respect the verdict.  California’s Republican House candidates are largely expected to keep their distance from Trump this week, but that doesn’t mean they’re turning their backs on him. Many have already endorsed the former president for reelection, including Garcia and Duarte. In March, Steel quietly signed on as a delegate for Trump in the presidential primary. Although Trump often demands total loyalty from within the party, there’s an assumption among California Republicans that he understands the stakes — control of the House — and won’t hold anyone’s silence against them. “At the end of the day, despite the veneer that he puts out, [Trump] understands that to win each of these individual House seats, the candidates have to have their own strategy to win,” said former California GOP executive director Jon Fleischman. “And he knows that there are districts where raising a Trump flag does not help you.” MEANWHILE, IN SILICON VALLEY — Some of the nation’s wealthiest citizens are pulling out their checkbooks for Trump, galvanized by the verdict. Sequoia Capital Partner Shaun Maguire donated $300,000 to Trump following the news, noting on X that the timing was “not a coincidence.” Another Sequoia partner, billionaire Doug Leone, announced Monday he would back Trump’s reelection bid, despite renouncing his support after the Jan. 6 Capitol riot.    Harmeet Dhillon, the national committeewoman of the RNC for California, plans to attend the fundraiser at the Sacks’ home Thursday. She said Trump’s stances on deregulating business and technology like cryptocurrency are likely to resonate with Silicon Valley elite. “You don't really need to agree with Donald Trump on a lot of issues, or his style or even like him, to understand where your business interests are aligned,” she said. GOOD MORNING. Happy Tuesday. Thanks for waking up with Playbook. You can text us at ‪916-562-0685‬‪ — save it as “CA Playbook” in your contacts. Or drop us a line at lkorte@politico.com and dgardiner@politico.com, or on X — @DustinGardiner and @Lara_Korte. WHERE’S GAVIN? Nothing official announced.   A message from Amazon: Roman turned his part-time warehouse job in San Bernardino into a marketing career with Amazon Music through Amazon Career Choice. “At Amazon, you can always keep growing,” he said. Amazon fulfillment centers create 3,000 local jobs on average with comprehensive benefits and free on-the-job technical training programs in towns across the country like San Bernardino, California. See the impact.   ON THE HILL Vince Fong shakes hands with House Speaker Mike Johnson during his ceremonial swearing-in at the U.S. Capitol on Monday. | Francis Chung/POLITICO MR. FONG GOES TO WASHINGTON — California has finally filled all of its seats in Congress: GOP Rep. Vince Fong was sworn in last night to the Central Valley office long held by former Speaker Kevin McCarthy, who abruptly resigned at the end of the year. Fong, who benefited from McCarthy’s endorsement and fundraising, won a special election to complete the former speaker’s term. He will run as an incumbent in November against a fellow Republican, Tulare County Sheriff Mike Boudreaux. In his address to Congress, Fong thanked McCarthy — who was back on the Hill for Fong’s swearing-in — a moment that was met with a mix of applause and boos. “I also want to especially thank my mentor and friend speaker Kevin McCarthy,” Fong said. “He has worked tirelessly for decades on behalf of the constituents of the Central Valley and our nation.” “We have no doubts you will be just as successful as your mentors,” GOP Rep. Ken Calvert said to Fong, introducing the former California state representative to Speaker Mike Johnson. — Mia McCarthy   A message from Amazon:   SAN FRANCISCO San Francisco Mayor London Breed, center in this March file photo, and state Sen. Scott Wiener, right, have teamed up on a bill that they say would combat the sale of stolen goods on city sidewalks. | Godofredo A. Vásquez/AP SIDEWALK SALE — San Francisco Mayor London Breed might have found a way around a 2018 state law that has made it difficult for the city to crack down on the widespread sale of stolen goods by vendors lining bust streets. The law, meant to prevent law enforcement from harassing street merchants, effectively prohibits police from enforcing sidewalk vending regulations. But Breed, who faces a tough reelection fight in November, says it has stifled the city’s efforts to combat the sale of fenced household items such as shampoo, multi-vitamins and laundry detergent. On Monday, state Sen. Scott Wiener and Breed unveiled proposed legislation that would allow San Francisco to require permits for the sale of toiletries and other goods commonly stolen from retail stores. Wiener, a San Francisco Democrat, said Senate Bill 925 would allow San Francisco to combat rampant fencing without infringing on the “cultural richness” of other street vending. The bill, specific to San Francisco, would give the city the power to decide what types of items to include (prepared food and handmade goods would be exempt). Vendors selling packaged retail items without a permit could be cited by police, and repeat offenders would face up to six months in jail. Breed called the bill a “narrow approach that specifically targets bad actors.” Her other efforts to crack down on the sale of stolen goods, including a temporary ban on street vending along a busy stretch of Mission Street, have drawn criticism from neighborhood and immigrant-rights groups in the Mission neighborhood. Breed, whose challengers have accused her of doing too little to stop the sale of stolen goods, has said the “Walgreens on the sidewalk” problem is distinct from the area’s tradition of mom-and-pop vendors. The latest proposal from Wiener has been endorsed by many neighborhood groups that fought Breed over the Mission Street ban.   A message from Amazon: 80% of employees reported skills training is one of their top priorities according to a survey by Workplace Intelligence. But many don’t have access to the programs and opportunities they need to advance their careers. That’s why Amazon has committed $1.2 billion to free technical training and prepaid tuition, so hourly employees have the opportunity to learn and earn more. Learn how Amazon invests in growth.   CLIMATE AND ENERGY CROSS-BORDER CLIMATE: Mexico just elected a climate scientist as president. That could give a major boost to California’s cross-border environmental collaborations. Read more about what state leaders hope to work on with President-elect Claudia Sheinbaum in last night’s California Climate. ON THE AGENDA RECALL WATCH — Temecula Valley school board President Joseph Komrosky — who feuded with Gov. Gavin Newsom over textbooks and pushed a ban on critical race theory — faces a recall election today. TOP TALKERS — Wildfire season is underway as the Corral Fire rages in the grasslands near Tracy. More acres have burned this year than is typical this early in the season, but a heavy winter snowpack could prevent more catastrophic fires. (San Francisco Chronicle) — Activists known as “Reclaimers,” who seized empty, Caltrans-owned homes in northeast Los Angeles during the pandemic, are facing eviction. (Los Angeles Times) AROUND THE STATE This aerial photo from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection shows the Corral Fire burning near Tracy. | California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection via AP — Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, who is considering a run for governor, endorsed Donald Trump’s presidential bid. In a video on his personal social media, he said, “I think it’s time we put a felon in the White House.” (The Press-Enterprise) — The FBI raided the Sonoma County home of developer Ken Mattson, who has been accused of fraudulent business practices. (The Press Democrat) — The state labor board declined to order an immediate halt to the UC academic workers strike, leaving the UCs with canceled classes and disrupted coursework in the weeks leading up to final exams. (Los Angeles Times) — compiled by Ariel Gans PLAYBOOKERS PEOPLE MOVES — Yvette Estrada was promoted to vice president of government affairs for NBCUniversal, leading the company’s California portfolio. BIRTHDAYS — Christian Arana of the Latino Community Foundation … Meta’s Ryan Daniels … André de Haes … (was Monday): Rabbi Steve Leder BELATED B-DAY WISHES — (was Monday) Eric Schmeltzer … Lauren Mekhael … (was Sunday): Crooked Media’s Jon Favreau … Zach Isakowitz of the Semiconductor Industry Association … Anita Altman ... Ben Zion Kogen SPOTTED: BLUE STATE DINING — Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas) at the ritzy French Laundry in Yountville, California. Pic … Another pic WANT A SHOUT-OUT FEATURED? — Send us a birthday, career move or another special occasion to include in POLITICO’s California Playbook. You can now submit a shout-out using this Google form. Disclaimer: All information will be verified. CALIFORNIA POLICY IS ALWAYS CHANGING: Know your next move. From Sacramento to Silicon Valley, POLITICO California Pro provides policy professionals with the in-depth reporting and tools they need to get ahead of policy trends and political developments shaping the Golden State. To learn more about the exclusive insight and analysis this subscriber-only service offers, click here. Want to make an impact? POLITICO California has a variety of solutions available for partners looking to reach and activate the most influential people in the Golden State. Have a petition you want signed? A cause you’re promoting? Seeking to increase brand awareness amongst this key audience? Share your message with our influential readers to foster engagement and drive action. Contact Rebecca Haase to find out how: rhaase@politico.com.   Follow us on Twitter Dustin Gardiner @dustingardiner Lara Korte @lara_korte   Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook family Playbook  |  Playbook PM  |  California Playbook  |  Florida Playbook  |  Illinois Playbook  |  Massachusetts Playbook  |  New Jersey Playbook  |  New York Playbook  |  Ottawa Playbook  |  Brussels Playbook  |  London Playbook View all our political and policy newsletters Follow us

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