MORE ON: campaign finance

Multimillionaire activists, big labor unions and major corporations combined to pump more than $363 million into political fights over 11 propositions on Tuesday’s state ballot, a California Watch analysis shows. That’s about $20 in political spending for each of California’s... + read more

While Gov. Jerry Brown cries foul over $11 million in unidentified money that recently infused the state ballot measure fight, federal races in California and around the country are awash in secret money, too. Advocacy groups that don't disclose donors have dumped more than $200 million... + read more

The top 10 donors to November's state ballot measures – a smattering of extremely wealthy people, powerful unions and large corporations – have dumped more than $150 million into the fight so far, according to campaign finance tracker MapLight.org. The mega-donors include... + read more

RICHMOND – Groups aligned with the soda industry already have spent hundreds of thousands of dollars as Richmond prepares to vote on raising taxes on sweetened drinks an extra penny an ounce. Since the spring, tax opponents have outspent supporters almost 10 to 1, new financial records show.... + read more

Facebook’s former chief privacy officer is bankrolling an anti-human trafficking ballot measure that would dramatically expand how California monitors sex offenders. The initiative – called the Californians Against Sexual Exploitation Act [PDF] – would toughen penalties for... + read more

With the American political system deluged with super-sized donations, a few innovative proposals are trying to harness small donors and, in one case, divert campaign cash to charity. The Federal Election Commission recently OK'd a proposal to let consumers cash in loyalty program points,... + read more

Wealthy Californians are keeping the money flowing to super political action committees, even as some state lawmakers want to turn off the faucet. Super PACs on the left and right drew hefty contributions last month from the rich and famous – such as controversial comedian Bill Maher and... + read more