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Follow the money: Who’s backing California’s next governor — and why By Jeanne Kuang and Jeremia Kimelman, CalMatters
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VOL. 15,
By City News Service
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| Chart courtesy of Jeremia Kimelman/CalMatters
tions representing doctors, contractors and several labor unions — have spent $13 million through PACs to boost Becerra. Chevron, McDonald’s, dialysis giant DaVita and one of the state’s largest oil drillers, California Resources Corp., are funding one of the largest pro-Becerra groups, with each of them contributing $500,000. Meta and AirBnB chipped in about $1 million each and health insurance corporation Centene, which runs California-based HealthNet, put in $100,000. Steyer is reveling in the spending against him, pointing to it as proof he’d stand up to utilities and big business. A climate activist, Steyer has highlighted Becerra’s support from Chevron. The progressive unions California Nurses Association and United Domestic Workers have spent a comparatively modest $1.4 million on mailers and digital media boosting Steyer. Outside groups have also spent $1.8 million opposing Republican frontrunner Steve Hilton, a
former Fox News host and British political strategist. Mahan fizzles out The second-highest outside spending went to boost Mahan, the San Jose mayor and moderate Democrat who entered the race late to much fanfare from Silicon Valley. California’s tech billionaires urged Mahan to run and backed him with millions in donations and two independent spending committees. They were enamored with his platform of government efficiency and opposition to new taxes — positions that would shield them from the Legislature’s push to regulate tech and raise taxes on the wealthy. Donors included venture capitalists Michael Moritz and Brian Singerman, DoorDash CEO Tony Xu, Intuit founder Scott Cook, Google co-founder Sergey Brin and Los Angeles developer and former mayoral candidate Rick Caruso.
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Bass appointed as Metro board chair for 2026-27, receives Newsom’s endorsement in reelection campaign
This story was originally published by CalMatters. ampaign donations are both a measure of popular support and a sign of which candidates special interests believe they can influence. CalMatters analyzed campaign finance data in the California governor’s race. Here are five takeaways on where the money is coming from and where it’s going. Outside money is shattering records It’s a record-breaking election when it comes to spending by corporations and special interest groups trying to influence who becomes the next governor. Outside groups, which unlike candidates can receive unlimited donations, reported spending $79 million so far — more than double the amount spent through the November 2018 general election when Gavin Newsom won his first term. Billionaire Tom Steyer is the biggest target: A political spending committee called California Is Not For Sale, funded by the state Realtors association, the California Chamber of Commerce, Pacific Gas & Electric and the state’s electrical workers’ union poured $32 million into ads opposing him. Steyer has vowed to lower electricity bills by challenging PG&E’s monopoly in much of Northern California. He’s also promised to pursue a ballot measure that would raise revenue for public services by requiring more accurate property tax assessments on business properties, a move that could upend the commercial real estate market. Some of the same groups spending against Steyer are running ads for Xavier Becerra. Those groups — along with organiza-
LA council delays hotel, airport wage hikes as businesses withdraw tax repeal
The committees spent nearly $22 million on ads supporting Mahan, significantly more than the $9 million his campaign has spent. But the money wasn’t enough to overcome his significant disadvantage in name recognition as the first-term mayor of a city that doesn’t get much attention. Strategists told the committees’ backers they needed at least $45 million to make a difference. One of the PACs, California Back to Basics, last week returned $1 million from Netflix CEO Reed Hastings; Hastings cryptically posted on X that he hadn’t asked for the money back. The refund was an acknowledgement that the committee hadn’t succeeded in raking in a final $10 to $15 million the billionaire backers hoped to raise in the last weeks of the campaign, committee spokesperson Matt Rodriguez said. Steyer spending breaking
See Campaign donations Page 05
he Metro Board of Directors voted unanimously Thursday to appoint Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass as the board’s chair during fiscal year 2026-27, marking the second time she will serve in the role. Bass will succeed Whittier City Councilman Fernando Dutra, who is expected to leave the board at the end of his term. The board appointed Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger as first vice chair and Pomona Mayor Tim Sandoval as second vice chair. Bass previously served as chair in fiscal year 2023-24. All three elected officials will have a one-year term, starting July 1. Metro is expected to formally pass the gavel to Bass as part of the transit organization’s annual State of the Agency event in the summer. “We know the board would benefit from her (Bass) steady leadership as we prepare for transformative years ahead, from the World Cup in two weeks to the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2028,” Dutra said. “While most importantly continuing the daily work of improving safety, reliability, accessibility and equity across our system.” Bass thanked Dutra for his leadership, citing his expertise in construction and business, and ability to navigate difficult meetings. Bass emphasized that Metro is at a defining moment with the World Cup on the horizon. “The fact is that it will impact the entire region and the very significant role that Metro will play, and I view it as a dress rehearsal See Karen Bass Page 27
for 2028,” Bass said. “We have an opportunity to try a number of things, see what works, and be prepared for the Olympics and Paralympic Games.” She said she looks forward to developing Metro’s new safety system, which involves the implementation of the agency’s new law enforcement department, as well as enhanced ambassador program. The Metro Board in June 2024 agreed to establish an in-house public safety department and transition away from contracting with regional police agencies such as the Los Angeles Police Department, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and the Long Beach Police Department. Dutra will step down from the Metro Board in July, having lost his reelection bid in April. The Gateway Cities Council of Governments and the Los Angeles County City Selection Committee are in the process of selecting Dutra’s replacement. The board has 13 voting members, which includes all five LA County supervisors; the mayor of Los Angeles, who picks three other members from the city; and four elected representatives from four smaller cities, each from different areas of the region. Those areas encompass North County/ San Fernando Valley, San Gabriel Valley, Gateway Cities, and South Bay/ Westside. Dutra’s seat is open for any mayor and city council members of 27 cities of the Gateway Cities COG. Any locally elected official can be nominated for the Metro