Five facts about the California cash fueling the 2016 race
California is considered an easy win next November for the Democrats, but presidential candidates from both parties routinely visit to court wealthy donors. Here are five facts from the early returns.
1. Clinton leads but Republicans are splitting a larger pot
No candidate raised more California cash through June 30 than Democrat Hillary Rodham Clinton. But the 16-member GOP field outraised its Democratic rivals on the whole, netting nearly 60% of the $44 million in gifts over $200 in the state.
2. L.A. and the Bay Area rule everything around them
Nearly 90% of the $44 million in California contributions have come from Los Angeles County or the nine counties touching the San Francisco Bay. Conservative bastions in Orange County and San Diego trail far behind.
3. Hollywood is helping Hillary
Clinton's California fundraising is powered by strong returns in Los Angeles County, where her campaign and super PAC have raised more than $9 million, including large donations from Hollywood elites like Steven Spielberg, J.J. Abrams, Haim Saban, Jeffrey Katzenberg and Abigail Disney.
4. The bay isn’t blue
Despite voting overwhelmingly for President Obama the past two elections, the Bay Area has given Republicans nearly 65% of donations greater than $200, thanks to million-dollar checks from tech titans like Larry Ellison and Scott Banister.
5. Nineteen millionaires account for nearly half the money
A small group of individuals from Silicon Valley, finance and Hollywood have contributed more than $20 million to super PACs linked to a presidential candidate. The donors listed below have given at least $500,000 — 46% of all California money disclosed so far.
Footnote: The totals on this page include contributions from Jan. 1 through the most recent Federal Election Commission filing cycle ending June 30.
The analysis includes money contributed to a candidate's official campaign committee as well as contributions to independent committees and super PACs that The Times has determined are campaigning for a candidate. Geographic analysis is based on ZIP Codes self-reported by donors.
Contributions smaller than $200 are not included in this analysis because campaigns are not required to list the addresses of those donors.
Sources: Federal Election Commission, Internal Revenue Service, Times research
Credits: Sahil Chinoy, Lily Mihalik and Erin Rode