Most contributions in Sacramento mayor’s race come from outside city

A historic amount of money has flowed into the campaign for Sacramento mayor – and most of it isn’t from Sacramento.

Roughly $1.4 million of the $2.1 million in contributions given to mayoral candidate and former state Senate leader Darrell Steinberg has come from donors with addresses outside the city, campaign finance records show.

Steinberg has received more money from people and groups in Los Angeles – about $216,000 – than City Council member Angelique Ashby, his leading opponent, has from Sacramento. Most of Steinberg’s campaign funds were transferred from an account he set up in 2011 to run for lieutenant governor.

Steinberg has raised more money for his mayoral campaign than current Mayor Kevin Johnson raised for his successful 2008 campaign, city records show. More than two-thirds of Steinberg’s donations have come from political groups, businesses and other organizations. About 30 percent of his donations have come from individuals.

Among Steinberg’s largest individual donors, making the maximum contribution of $3,300, are Sacramento lobbyist Darius Anderson, Democratic political consultant Gale Kaufman and billionaire environmentalist Tom Steyer. Other large donors include Hollywood producer Steven Bochco and Netflix CEO Reed Hastings.

By contrast, Ashby has raised about $350,000. About 60 percent of her contributions have come from Sacramento donors; half her donations have come from individual donors.

Ashby’s largest individual donors, contributing the $3,300 maximum, include Kings minority owner and real estate developer Phil Oates, Sacramento Kings co-owner Mark Mastrov, Capitol Casino owner Clarke Rosa, Vision Service Plan CEO James McGrann and Republican political strategist Jeff Randle.

These maps show the locations of California donors to Steinberg and Ashby:

Source: City of Sacramento; campaign filings | Note: Excudes donations under $100.

This story was originally published June 2, 2016 at 3:12 PM with the headline "Most contributions in Sacramento mayor’s race come from outside city."