WASHINGTON — California has been a significant source of funding for Democratic candidates in divisive races this year. Donors from California contributed over $17 million combined to far-left candidates and their moderate opponents in congressional races and U.S. Senate contests, according to a Los Angeles Times analysis of recent campaign finance filings. Nearly $11 million of that total went to more progressive candidates, supported by more than 95,000 individual donors, which is more than double the number of California donors who contributed to moderate candidates. This includes 18,000 donors who supported both progressive and moderate candidates.
The analysis revealed a geographic divide in contributions, with the largest share of funding for progressive candidates coming from the Bay Area, while moderate candidates received more support from the Los Angeles area. The Times examined competitive races outside California where candidates were endorsed by either the Justice Democrats or the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), as well as key Senate races in Michigan, Minnesota, Florida, and Maine featuring a stark ideological divide among Democratic contenders.
Progressive candidates generally performed better in these contests. California donors played a crucial role in funding the Senate primary victories of progressives Abdul El-Sayed in Michigan and Peggy Flanagan in Minnesota, being the second-largest source of funding for each candidate. Progressive House candidates, such as Melat Kiros in Colorado and Darializa Avila Chevalier in New York, also defeated more moderate incumbents with substantial support from California donors.
However, not all efforts were successful. Former Rep. Cori Bush received more financial backing from California donors than from in-state supporters in her attempt to unseat incumbent Rep. Wesley Bell in Missouri’s 1st Congressional District, but Bell won the primary decisively. California donors contributed nearly $2.5 million to Bell's Senate campaign in Maine before he withdrew amid allegations of sexual assault, which he has denied.
The Times analysis focused on direct contributions to campaigns, capped at $7,000 per election cycle, and did not include contributions to party committees or independent committees. It included both larger contributions that require disclosure and small-dollar contributions through the Democratic fundraising platform ActBlue.
Progressive donors expressed a desire for candidates who would challenge the Democratic Party’s status quo. Rehan Alvi, a real estate investor, stated, "The Democratic Party has to understand that they can’t keep doing the same thing," and he contributed the maximum allowable to support El-Sayed and Bush, among others.
Harry Saddler, a retired designer, noted that the state of the party is “enraging,” prompting him to support progressive candidates like Flanagan and Chevalier, while also backing some moderates he views as crucial for the Democrats' success.
Joshua Saltman, a former entertainment industry lawyer, emphasized the need for Democrats to win in more moderate districts to retake the House, leading him to support moderate candidates who might receive less attention from other donors.
The divide among donors also reflects differing views on issues such as American support for Israel, which has become a contentious topic among progressive and moderate candidates. Progressive candidates have increasingly criticized the Israeli government's actions, while some donors are motivated to support moderate candidates out of concern that anti-Israel rhetoric could lead to broader antisemitism.
El-Sayed has openly criticized AIPAC’s support of his moderate opponent, describing it as “legalized bribery,” while asserting that his stance is about foreign policy, not a reflection on Jewish people. Some donors, like Steve Emerson, have expressed their motivation to support moderate Democrats as a means to combat antisemitism.
Ben Wieder is a Washington correspondent for the Los Angeles Times focused on political investigations. Gabrielle LaMarr LeMee is a data reporter on the Los Angeles Times Data Desk. The analysis highlights the complex dynamics of donor motivations and candidate support within the Democratic Party as it navigates ideological divisions.