Who’s fueling CA’s congressional cash race

With Democrats firmly answerable for statewide workplaces and the Legislature, California isn’t typically seen as a “battleground state.” However California might determine which social gathering controls Congress — and each events and their allies are spending tens of hundreds of thousands of {dollars} to grab the chance.

As CalMatters politics reporter Yue Stella Yu explains, outdoors political teams working independently from candidates’ campaigns are pouring massive bucks into a few of California’s best congressional districts. Within the 5 tightest racespolitical events and different teams spent a complete of $71 million as of Thursday, airing tv advertisements, rolling out cellular billboards and reaching out to voters.

Congressional Management Fund, a PAC tied to GOP Home Speaker Mike Johnson, plans to spend more cash in California than in some other state — $40 million. Its Democratic counterpart, the Home Majority PAC, has additionally spent greater than $40 million to run advertisements within the state.

• Dan Constonpresident of the Congressional Management Fund, in a press release: “California remains an essential battleground for holding the House majority, which is why we’ve made such substantial and comprehensive investments in the state.”

• Alisha Hengpress secretary of the Home Majority PAC, in a press release: “House Democrats are well-positioned and have the momentum, and we will flip the House blue…”

America PAC, an excellent PAC created by Elon Musk, the tech mogul and Tesla CEO, has spent $3 million — greater than in some other state — selling Republicans in three California Home races. Cryptocurrency-linked tremendous PACs have additionally invested hundreds of thousands of {dollars} on Republican incumbents in three California swing districts, experiences Politico.

So who’s successful the cash conflict in California among the many candidates themselves? In six of essentially the most aggressive districts, Democrats outraised Republicans by virtually 300% between July and September. For one Democratic strategist, this alerts the waning affect of former GOP Home Speaker Kevin McCarthy of Bakersfield, and the rise of leaders within the Home Democratic Caucus.

Moreover congressional races, California is a money cow for Democratic and Republican presidential candidates. The marketing campaign for Vice President Kamala Harris and President Joe Biden raised virtually $30 million from California as of July. And former President Donald Trump and his operating mate, U.S. Sen. JD Vance of Ohio, have been currying the favor (and wallets) of influential Silicon Valley tech executives and crypto buyers.

Learn extra concerning the cash flowing into California’s congressional races in Stella’s story.

Let’s get into some extra marketing campaign information:

Newsom returning to the path: Gov. Gavin Newsom is out campaigning for Harris once more. Thursday, he appeared at an occasion in Charlotte on the primary day of early voting in North Carolina, a key swing state.

Moreover praising his fellow Californian, together with her Wednesday night time interview on Fox Information, Newsom warned about disinformation and misinformation from Trump.

• Newsom: “The other side sells fear. They weaponize grievance. … Facts don’t matter.”

The governor plans to stump in Michigan, one other battleground state, earlier than returning to California on Saturday. Newsom’s position within the Harris marketing campaign has been considerably murky: He stood by President Joe Biden till he dropped out and backed Harris in late July. And Newsom didn’t get a really outstanding position on the Democratic Nationwide Conference in August.

Truth-checking Prop. 33 advertisements: Either side have poured tens of hundreds of thousands of {dollars} to sway voter on Proposition 33a statewide poll measure to provide extra leeway for native governments to restrict lease will increase. However how correct are their marketing campaign advertisements?

In a single spot, supporters declare homelessness is up practically 40% in California since 2019, experiences CalMatters’ Felicia Mello. However the newest depend exhibits homelessness is up 23%. In one other advert, opponents say Prop. 33 would repeal greater than 100 state housing legal guidelines and decrease rents a lot that it will cripple landlords’ income. However that’s not fairly true both: Although the measure would weaken some legal guidelines, California courts have already dominated that lease management insurance policies that don’t permit landlords to make a “reasonable return on their investment” are unconstitutional.

Be taught extra about debunking Prop. 33 advertisements in Felicia’s story.

Defending voters: To make sure members of their social gathering get the election day data they want, the California Democratic and Republican events have arrange separate sources for voters. A hotline went dwell Thursday for Democratic voters to name in questions or in the event that they run into issues on the polls. And the GOP has an on-line portal to entry data and report any election integrity points.

Subsequent 12 months, personal nonprofit faculties in California will probably be banned from admitting college students primarily based partially on whether or not their relations donated cash to the college or beforehand attended the college. However as CalMatters’ Carolyn Jones explains, the measure is basically symbolic.

Solely six of California’s 90 personal nonprofit faculties admitted about 2,100 college students with legacy or donor ties final fall. As a substitute of faculties paying a hefty positive for violating the legislation (a provision of the unique invoice that was finally dropped), the state legal professional basic can solely sue faculties into complying.

And whereas many personal faculties stated that legacy admissions assist them elevate cash, some stated following the brand new legislation gained’t upend their admissions course of anyway, for the reason that college students they accepted with alumni or donor connections already met different admissions standards.

Nonetheless, proponents say the measure is vital.

• Assemblymember Phil Tinga San Francisco Democrat and co-author of the legislation: “Students who already have every advantage should not be taking spots away from students who’ve worked extra hard to get there.”

Learn extra about legacy admissions in Carolyn’s story.

This week, CalMatters video technique director Robert Meeks is sharing variations of our “Prop. in a Minute” movies with viewers of our companion PBS SoCal. Watch those on Prop. 4 and Prop. 5.

SoCalMatters airs at 5:58 p.m. weekdays on PBS SoCal.