Big party money poured into California legislative races

Democratic and Republican party campaign committees had pumped more than $29 million into the state’s most competitive Assembly and Senate contests heading into Tuesday’s election, state filings show.

Democratic candidates in the party’s top-10 contests collected more than $21 million since mid-August, almost three times the $8.3 million donated by Republican parties to candidates in their top-10 districts.

Among Democratic candidates, the campaigns of former Assembly members Al Muratsuchi, D-Torrance, and Sharon Quirk-Silva, D-Fullerton, and challenger Abigail Medina, D-San Bernardino, had received the most party money, as Democrats seek to recapture the two-thirds super-majorities they enjoyed after the 2012 election.

 

Among Republican candidates, the state Senate campaigns of Assemblywoman Ling Ling Chang, R-Diamond Bar, and Assemblyman Scott Wilk, R-Santa Clarita, had received the most party money. Next-highest was Assemblyman Marc Steinorth, R-Rancho Cucamonga, who is running against Medina.

 

State parties and county central committees have a major role in candidate fundraising under state rules approved by voters in 2000. The law set tight candidate contribution limits but allows parties to donate much larger amounts.

This story was originally published November 8, 2016 at 5:46 PM.