Surprise: Big Money Dominates Calif. Politics

The top 100 donors provide 1/3 of the campaign cash in California.

Running a political campaign is expensive. The bucks start here -- with the 100 donors who contributed a bulk of the campaign cash spent over the past decade, according to California Watch.

"Hundreds of thousands" of citizens and committees have donated cash to campaigns, but an "elite club" of 100 supplied one-third of the $3.67 billion spent in the state since 2001, the nonprofit reported.

These top dollar providers backed winning efforts five times more often than they bankrolled losers, it was reported. They also tended to spend heavily on ballot initiatives.

the top 50 group contributors – including labor unions, energy companies and tribal governments – were three times more likely to give to Democratic candidates. The top 50 individuals, however, gave slightly more to Republicans.

Source: The Bay Citizen (http://s.tt/1dd2S)v

supplied about a third of the $3.67 billion lavished on state campaigns during that time, campaign records show.

Source: The Bay Citizen (http://s.tt/1dd2S)

supplied about a third of the $3.67 billion lavished on state campaigns during that time, campaign records show.

Source: The Bay Citizen (http://s.tt/1d

Stephen Bing, a Hollywood magnate, spent the most of any individual, spending almost $50 million in 2006 alone. The California Teachers Union spent the most of any group, with the union spending $118 million on campaigns, much of it during 2005, the nonprofit reported.

Two Indian tribes spent $80 million each in 2008.

the top 50 group contributors – including labor unions, energy companies and tribal governments – were three times more likely to give to Democratic candidates. The top 50 individuals, however, gave slightly more to Republicans.

Source: The Bay Citizen (http://s.tt/1dd2S)

the top 50 group contributors – including labor unions, energy companies and tribal governments – were three times more likely to give to Democratic candidates. The top 50 individuals, however, gave slightly more to Republicans.

Source: The Bay Citizen (http://s.tt/1dd2S)

the top 50 group contributors – including labor unions, energy companies and tribal governments – were three times more likely to give to Democratic candidates. The top 50 individuals, however, gave slightly more to Republicans.

Source: The Bay Citizen (http://s.tt/1d

Copyright FREEL - NBC Local Media
Contact Us