California Governor's Race Sees Record-Breaking Campaign Spending from Special Interests
The California governor's race is witnessing unprecedented financial involvement from billionaires, corporations, and special interest groups, making it the most expensive primary campaign in the state's history. A significant portion of the spending is directed against billionaire Tom Steyer, who has pledged to challenge Pacific Gas & Electric's monopoly and push for more accurate property tax assessments on business properties. A political spending committee, California Is Not For Sale, funded by entities like the California Chamber of Commerce and PG&E, has invested $32 million in ads opposing Steyer. Meanwhile, other groups are supporting Xavier Becerra, with contributions from companies like Chevron and McDonald's. Republican frontrunner Steve Hilton, endorsed by President Trump, has garnered the most individual donors, while Democrat Katie Porter has a significant national donor base.