Billionaire Tom Steyer is paying influencers to boost his $200 million California governor campaign. Some didn’t disclose it. A state law offers little accountability.
Polls released earlier this week showed some separation of three candidates – Democrats Xavier Becerra and Tom Steyer and Republican Steve Hilton – from the others, and the trio were on the receiving end of most of the barbs at the May 14 debate.
Supporters of Matt Mahan see a rare opportunity in Eric Swalwell’s demise, as one independent campaign committee supporting the San Jose mayor pulled in $12 million in new and previously committed contributions from wealthy donors since Friday.
Democratic Party leaders must have breathed a little easier after Wednesday’s release of the latest statewide poll that showed two Democrats, Rep. Eric Swalwell and Tom Steyer, gaining ground at the expense of Republicans Steve Hilton and Chad Bianco.
The California Back to Basics Committee, operating for the San Jose mayor but independent of his campaign, spent $1.5 million to produce and buy the spot endorsing Matt Mahan during TV’s most watched telecast this Sunday.
During a private meeting in Atherton, venture capitalist and former state controller Steve Westly told a few dozen tech execs, politicos and influence peddlers that he will run for governor of California in 2018.
