Political action committees backed by unions, business coalitions, and technology investors have pumped more than $100 million into California legislative races, eclipsing 2024 spending. With less than three weeks until Election Day, outside groups are heavily targeting purple districts featuring a Democrat and a Republican, alongside safely Democratic districts featuring candidates with distinct ideological differences.
Under state rules, independent expenditure committees can spend unlimited amounts to boost or oppose a candidate as long as they do not coordinate directly with official campaigns. This influx of cash has redefined competitive state legislative contests across California, particularly through the participation of tech-backed political action committees that entered the landscape in January.
More than $20 million has been deployed this election cycle by Grow California, which was established as a “counterforce” to union spending through funding from venture capitalist Tim Draper and cryptocurrency investor Chris Larsen. Meanwhile, California Leads, funded by Meta and Google, has spent close to $14 million to support candidates focused on “real-world solutions rather than ideological fights.” At the same time, the Legislative Action PAC—along with its offshoots Legislative Action Victory PAC and Legislative Bipartisan Action PAC—has spent at least $6 million since April to help Republicans protect seats they flipped in 2024, backed by funders including Google, AT&T, and oil and gas companies.
Santa Ana Assembly District 68 Battle Draws Heavy Tech and Labor Spending
David Penaloza faces Jessie Lopez, who is the more progressive candidate in the matchup. After casting a vote in 2022 to establish a police oversight commission, Lopez faced a recall effort initiated by the local police union, having previously helped pass a rent control ordinance in 2021.
Tech money has flowed heavily to support Penaloza. In recent weeks, California Leads spent $1.4 million and Grow California spent $1.3 million on ads supporting Penaloza. A total of $1.4 million has been spent collectively by influential labor groups—such as unions representing California State University faculty, nurses, and public employees—on advertisements that back Lopez while criticizing Penaloza.
Los Angeles Senate District 24 Pivots on Renter Protections
In Senate District 24, a coastal Los Angeles district spanning Malibu and Santa Monica, spending has hit $5 million in the race to succeed Sen. Ben Allen. John Erickson, a member of the West Hollywood city council, is running against Brian Goldsmith, an entrepreneur who previously worked as a senior adviser for the pro-Israel advocacy group Democratic Majority for Israel.
The candidates are sharply divided on renter protections. Both the Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act and the Ellis Act—which restrict local rent control measures and permit landlords to evict tenants in order to exit the rental market—are supported for repeal by Erickson. That stance prompted an influx of spending supporting Goldsmith, including $450,000 from the California Apartment Association for independent ads attacking Erickson, plus over $600,000 from a PAC backed by the California Realtors Association. Meanwhile, criminal justice reform advocates and organized labor groups, including carpenters and school employees, have bankrolled ads supporting Erickson.
Palm Springs Assembly District 47 Contested by Wallis and Namvar
Outside spending has driven total expenditures to $4.7 million in Assembly District 47, where Republican Assemblymember Greg Wallis is defending a purple district that includes Palm Springs, Cathedral City, and conservative suburbs near Redlands and Yucaipa. Wallis maintains a significant fundraising advantage, outspending his challenger 6-to-1, with independent expenditures favoring him by more than 5-to-1.
California Leads has spent $1.1 million supporting Wallis, a moderate with a pro-business record, while a PAC funded by oil and gas companies has spent about $450,000. Legislative Bipartisan Action PAC spent about the same. To counter the outside spending, the Democratic Party and its county committees have given Democratic challenger Leila Namvar, a former local labor leader and city planner, about $1.8 million since mid-September.
Los Angeles Senate District 26 and Marin County Assembly District 12 See Tech Inflows
In the deep blue Los Angeles-based Senate District 26, spending has reached $4.6 million as community college trustee Sara Hernandez faces East Los Angeles planning commissioner Sarah Rascón to replace departing progressive Sen. María Elena Durazo. Grow California and California Leads are backing Hernandez with about $3 million, despite her campaign website pledging “fight for strict rules with real enforcement” on Big Tech profits. Cardrooms near the district, including Hawaiian Gardens Casino and Commerce Casino, have also spent roughly $500,000 on independent ads supporting Hernandez.
Rascón, whose priorities include advancing environmental and social justice, rejected corporate money and ran a campaign that spent about $34,000 by mid-September, alongside more than $100,000 in support from the Working Families Party and California Environmental Voters. In Assembly District 12 covering all of Marin County and some of Sonoma County, Grow California spent about $1.8 million backing Marin County Supervisor Eric Lucan. His opponent, progressive Rohnert Park Councilmember Jackie Elward, who supports moratoriums on “all things AI,” received over $1 million from the California Labor Federation, AFL-CIO, Consumer Attorneys of California, and SEIU California State Council.
Border and Central Valley Flashpoints Shape Remaining Competitive Contests
- Hoover’s allies have spent at least $2.3 million, while Democrats contributed close to $1 million to Slavensky.
- Legislative Action Victory PAC spent $650,000 attacking Cervantes, while a union coalition spent $530,000 supporting her.
- Legislative Action PAC has spent over $1.7 million supporting Gonzalez and opposing Hurtado, while the Democratic Party donated $4.8 million to Hurtado’s campaign war chest.
Frequently Asked Questions About California Legislative Spending
How much have political action committees spent on California legislative races this cycle?
Political action committees backed by unions, business groups, and tech investors have spent over $100 million on California legislative races so far this election cycle, eclipsing 2024 spending.
What are independent expenditures in California elections?
Independent expenditures are unlimited financial contributions made by political action committees to boost or oppose candidates, provided those groups do not coordinate with the campaign.
Which tech-backed groups are driving the highest spending?
Two tech-backed groups dominate the spending landscape: Grow California, funded by Chris Larsen and Tim Draper with more than $20 million spent, and California Leads, funded by Meta and Google with close to $14 million spent.
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