Term limits undermine GOP campaign efforts
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GOP lawmakers hoping the party’s recent victories in Massachusetts, New Jersey and Virginia will provide momentum to pick up some legislative seats in California could find themselves facing a formidable obstacle: a shortage of campaign cash.
Blame term limits. GOP leaders in the Assembly and the state Senate are already looking for their next gig and raising funds for their caucuses may not be priority No. 1 for them.
According to financial reports filed this week, Senate GOP leader Dennis Hollingsworth of Murrieta raised $36,000 in the last six months of 2009 – a tiny fraction of what his Democratic counterpart raked in. Assembly GOP leader Sam Blakeslee of San Luis Obispo did have an impressive haul of $278,662, but many insiders expect that he will direct the bulk of it to his own campaign for the state Senate. He is angling for the seat of Abel Maldonado (R-Santa Maria), who was recently appointed to the post of lieutenant governor and is awaiting confirmation. The seat is in a swing district where the majority of voters are Democrats.
Both Democratic leaders in the Legislature face no serious competition for their seats and can serve several more years before being termed out. The money they raise will likely go to assist other Democratic campaigns.
Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg (D-Sacramento) raised $268,124. More than 27% of that, $73,556, came in through a ballot measure committee Steinberg formed called ‘Committee for a New Economy.’ Lawmakers have used money in ballot measure campaigns for a variety of political purposes – not just to bankroll initiatives. There are no limits on contributions to ballot measure committees.
The Steinberg filing offers no hint of what a ballot measure might say, but it could point to a jolly new economy if the contributors are any indication: $25,000 from the Wine Institute of California, $25,000 from E&J Gallo and $25,000 from Constellation Brands, which makes Robert Mondavi wines.
Newly elected Assembly Speaker John Perez (D-Los Angeles) raised $261,699 between July and December. Nearly 20% of that, $51,142, went to a ballot measure committee dubbed ‘Building California’s Future.’ Blue Shield of California gave $25,000, the California Medical Assn.’s PAC gave $10,000, filing records show.
Outgoing Assembly Speaker Karen Bass was not actively raising funds to seek another office in late 2009, but the Los Angeles Democrat does have a $325,125 treasury remaining from her 2008 reelection bid. Termed out this year, she continued to raise funds for a ballot measure committee, ‘Strengthening California Through Leadership,’ which took in $81,850 in the last half of the year.
-- Jack Dolan and Shane Goldmacher in Sacramento
