Govern For California is using a network of local chapters to amplify the influence of its donors on legislative races.
This is totally different than anything I’ve seen before… It’s a very creative way to maximize electoral strength.CalMatters spoke to eight campaign finance experts about Govern For California. Five said its chapter donation model represents something new in California electoral politics, and some found it concerning.
“It’s free speech,” said Stern. “It’s me coming along recommending that they support a certain candidate. You can’t stop me from making recommendations, as long as I’m not directing them.”to understand how they operate and their relationship to Crane and Rick Rivas. The majority did not respond and none agreed to be quoted.
Crane’s email highlighted specific contributions this year to an unnamed Assembly candidate from 16 union-sponsored committees, including four SEIU locals, and suggested that these committees — representing teachers, California State University faculty, nurses, steelworkers and other employees — were managing their spending in a manner comparable to the Govern For California network.
Oscar Lopez, political director for SEIU California, said its endorsement process involves members from each local affiliate meeting with candidates, asking questions and making recommendations to the state council in a “bottom-up process” that “puts workers in the center of decision-making.” Then, he said, locals can decide whether to contribute to those candidates endorsed by the council.
Though Crane, who serves as co-chairperson of the statewide chapter, declined to be interviewed for this story, he initially agreed to field questions by email.
Govern For California first launched into California electoral politics in 2012, when it spent nearly $200,000 to influence a San Fernando Valley Assembly race, supporting Democrat Brian Johnson, a charter school executive director, against another Democrat, Adrin Nazarian. Nazarian won and is retiring from the Assembly this year., which are not covered by donation and spending limits but cannot be coordinated with a candidate’s campaign. It also bundled contributions from major donors.
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