Campaign Finance Posts

Campaign Finance

2026’s Self-Funding Hopefuls Face a Tough Track Record

Aug 13, 2025 • 5 min read

Self-funding might buy name recognition, but in California’s biggest races it rarely buys victory. With the 2026 governor’s race already featuring major self-funders, our analysis of a decade’s worth of statewide and legislative campaigns shows why big checks haven’t translated into consistent wins—and why primaries are the one area where self-funders see better odds.

Campaign Finance

Bianco’s Donor Base in the LA Media Market Could Signal a GOP Edge

Aug 7, 2025 • 5 min read

Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco has raised slightly more than rival Steve Hilton in California’s GOP gubernatorial primary—but the real story is where his money comes from. A broad base of small-dollar donors concentrated in the Los Angeles media market suggests Bianco may already have meaningful name recognition in the state’s most vote-rich region, giving him a strategic edge as the race unfolds.

Campaign Finance

What Early Money Tells Us About California's 2026 Governor Race

Aug 6, 2025 • 13 min read

Early fundraising patterns in California's 2026 Democratic governor primary reveal how candidates are building their campaigns and where they see their paths to victory. From small-dollar grassroots networks to self-funding strategies, geographic distribution and donor analysis offers insights into the strategic landscape of what promises to be a highly competitive race.

Campaign Finance

The Money Trail: Tracking Incumbent Contributions to 2026 Legislative Candidates

Aug 5, 2025 • 45 min read

California's sitting legislators are already writing checks to 2026 Assembly and Senate candidates, revealing early strategic priorities and political relationships. Our analysis tracks which incumbents are investing in which races and candidates.

Campaign Finance

How Legislators Trade Grassroots Support for Institutional Money

Jul 29, 2025 • 4 min read

California legislators often start their political careers fueled by local, grassroots donations. But as they settle into office, much of that early support fades, replaced by a heavy reliance on institutional donors. Our analysis of campaign finance data since 2012 reveals how quickly individual donor retention drops—and how much money is left on the table when legislators fail to maintain those early relationships.

Campaign Finance

The Major Donors Who Shaped the 2024 Legislative Elections

Jun 30, 2025 • 8 min read

Who were the biggest financial backers of California’s 2024 legislative candidates? We used The Ballot Book’s new campaign finance tools to analyze which major donors spent the most — and how often their candidates won. The results offer a revealing look at the individuals, businesses, and organizations shaping the future of the State Assembly and Senate.

Campaign Finance

Who’s Backing the Right Candidates in Sacramento?

Jun 24, 2025 • 10 min read

Discover which California political committees are best at picking winning candidates. Our analysis of three recent election cycles reveals the top-performing PACs, their hit rates, and what it says about influence in state politics.

Campaign Finance

Tracking Early Fundraising in the 2026 Governor’s Race

Jun 17, 2025 • 3 min read

With the 2026 primary approaching, early fundraising numbers offer a glimpse into which gubernatorial candidates are gaining momentum — and who might be stalling. This breakdown uses data from The Ballot Book’s campaign finance platform to track who’s raising, spending, and signaling viability.

Campaign Finance

Did SB 1439 Change Local Campaign Finance?

Apr 1, 2025 • 5 min read

When SB 1439 became law in 2022, it aimed to curb donor influence by restricting local officials from voting on matters tied to recent contributors. New data from 95 California agencies shows that while overall fundraising and outside spending remain strong, the law may not have significantly changed how money moves through local politics.

Campaign Finance

Latest Posts

2026’s Self-Funding Hopefuls Face a Tough Track Record

Bianco’s Donor Base in the LA Media Market Could Signal a GOP Edge

What Early Money Tells Us About California's 2026 Governor Race

The Money Trail: Tracking Incumbent Contributions to 2026 Legislative Candidates

How Legislators Trade Grassroots Support for Institutional Money

The Major Donors Who Shaped the 2024 Legislative Elections

Who’s Backing the Right Candidates in Sacramento?

Tracking Early Fundraising in the 2026 Governor’s Race

Did SB 1439 Change Local Campaign Finance?

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