The Democrats operating for California governor have spent the spring and summer time working to win over the highly effective donors and curiosity teams who may assist them squeak via a aggressive major election.
However the candidates, and plenty of deep-pocketed Democrats, are nonetheless ready for the choice that can have the most important affect on the race: whether or not former Vice President Kamala Harris is operating.
“It creates a little bit of a limbo situation,” mentioned Tony Thurmond, the state superintendent of public instruction who launched his gubernatorial marketing campaign in 2023.
The Democrats within the race are speaking to most of the identical potential donors, Thurmond mentioned, and most have the identical query: “Is she going to run?” The one reply, Thurmond mentioned, is an unsatisfying one: “We don’t know.”
Since leaving Washington in January, Harris has principally stayed out of the general public eye, settling again into her Brentwood house together with her husband, Doug Emhoff, and speaking to shut pals and confidantes about what she ought to do subsequent. She is weighing whether or not to go away politics, run for governor or run for president for a 3rd time. She is anticipated to decide concerning the gubernatorial race by the top of summer time.
The Democrats who’re already operating for governor lack Harris’ star energy, and her entry may upend the race. However the former vice chairman would additionally face questions on her 107-day dash to the White Home, what she knew about President Biden’s decline and whether or not somebody who has run unsuccessfully for president twice actually desires to be California’s governor.
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“She is looking closely where is the best place to put her energy and focus and her time,” mentioned Debbie Mesloh, a longtime Harris ally.
The few public appearances Harris has made this yr — assembly with firefighters in Altadena, attending a highschool commencement in Compton and headlining a Democratic Nationwide Committee fundraiser within the Bay Space — have been fodder for these attempting to learn the tea leaves. What does it imply that Harris skipped the state Democratic Occasion conference? That Emhoff has taken a instructing job at USC?
Harris had initially deliberate to take a two-week trip on the finish of this month however has canceled her journey, in keeping with somebody aware of her plans.
Harris has additionally been in New York, the place she attended Broadway performs and the unique Met Gala; in San Francisco, the place she dined together with her niece Meena on the high-end Japanese restaurant Shoji; and in Los Angeles, the place she has shopped for groceries at a 99 Ranch Market in Westwood and the Brentwood Farmers Market.
Because the months have worn on, some gubernatorial campaigns have began to assume that Harris’ victory appears like much less of a foregone conclusion than if she’d introduced in January after leaving workplace.
Former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, former Biden Cupboard secretary Xavier Becerra and former U.S. Rep. Katie Porter of Irvine have mentioned that they are going to keep within the race it doesn’t matter what.
Veteran state Senate chief Toni Atkins of San Diego mentioned she can be staying in if Harris runs, saying in an announcement that “while the vice president has her own path, our campaign is moving full speed ahead.”
Former state Controller Betty Yee mentioned in an interview this week that even when Harris runs, she is staying in, too.
“No, no, no,” Yee mentioned, of the potential of in search of one other statewide workplace. Being governor, she mentioned, “is what I feel like I’ve prepared to do. I will be staying in the race and really leaning into my fiscal and financial background.”
Yee mentioned when she talks to donors, they wish to know two issues: how California can push again in opposition to the Trump administration, and what she’s going to do if Harris enters the race.
“They’ve got a good excuse to not give, because even if they are a big fan of a candidate who’s in the race now, they don’t know if the candidate will stay in the race,” Newman mentioned. “Then there are others who don’t want to give to someone who might run against her.”
“They’re not going to wait much longer,” Jaye mentioned. “There are going to be donors who say, ‘We have to go. We’re not going to wait for you.’”
However even when Harris entered, that wouldn’t be a assure that donors would again her once more, together with those that are offended that she spent almost $1.5 billion in marketing campaign funds in her compressed marketing campaign for the White Home in 2024.
“The money is very, very upset with her,” mentioned gubernatorial candidate Stephen Cloobeck, a businessman and Democratic donor who’s operating for California governor. “They’re my friends. I’m part of that money. Everyone is thoroughly reeling.”
The amount of cash that candidates increase is one strategy to gauge their help — and prospects. That image stays somewhat fuzzy, although, since gubernatorial candidates have till July 31 to report their fundraising hauls from the primary half of the yr.
The one candidate to launch numbers thus far is Becerra, who mentioned he raised $2.4 million since coming into the race in early April, together with a $1.1-million switch from his congressional marketing campaign account. Becerra’s marketing campaign has $2 million available, together with the biggest contributions allowed by regulation — $39,200 — from the politically related Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians and Pechanga Band of Indians.
Campaigns are required to report contributions of $5,000 or extra shortly after they obtain them. These figures don’t characterize complete fundraising, however can nonetheless present a marketing campaign’s trajectory.
Three of the eight candidates have raised lower than $100,000 this yr in chunks of greater than $5,000 at a time, state knowledge present. Yee reported $71,900 and Thurmond, $32,500.
Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis reported elevating $70,000, together with $5,000 from Google. Her marketing campaign mentioned Kounalakis, who has been elevating cash since coming into the race in April 2023, has $9 million available.
“I want to be clear that I’m in this race to win,” Kounalakis mentioned.
Villaraigosa, who entered the race final summer time, has raised virtually $1 million this yr via massive donations, knowledge present. Atkins reported about $381,000 this yr, and Cloobeck, about $132,000.
Porter, who entered the race in March, reported virtually $475,000 in bigger contributions, in keeping with state knowledge. She additionally transferred $942,000 from her U.S. Senate account to her gubernatorial account, in keeping with federal filings made public Tuesday.
