$450,000 flows into Sacramento County DA race as TV ad battle begins
Contributions in the race for Sacramento County District Attorney have topped $1.2 million as criminal justice reform advocates battle law enforcement organizations in the wake of the Stephon Clark shooting.
Challenger Noah Phillips received more than $350,000 in contributions during May alone, according to the latest campaign filings. Many of Phillips' contributors favor criminal justice changes and are angry about the Clark shooting. Phillips has raised a total of $643,000.
Most of Phillips' contributions have come from the California Justice & Public Safety PAC, funded by billionaire George Soros. That organization has given more than $375,000 of in-kind contributions to Phillips' campaign.
Incumbent Anne Marie Schubert drew almost $100,000 in new contributions in May, mostly from law enforcement organizations and lawyers. The Sacramento County Deputy Sheriff's Association gave Schubert another $25,000 this month, bringing their total contributions to nearly $70,000. Schubert has raised a total of $652,000.
Both candidates hit the airwaves this week as all Sacramento County voters received ballots in the mail under an experimental election system.
Schubert launched a 30-second spot tying Phillips to Soros and emphasizing an accusation of prosecutorial misconduct. Phillips launched his own ad that called for an end to "racial profiling and police misconduct."
The statewide primary will be held June 5, but Sacramento County registered voters have been sent ballots in the mail and can begin voting at any time.
This story was originally published May 12, 2018 at 12:01 AM with the headline "$450,000 flows into Sacramento County DA race as TV ad battle begins."