Ortiz-Legg leads Cunningham in fundraising battle
October 12, 2016
Boosted by heavy backing from the California Democratic Party seeking a super majority, 35th District Assembly candidate Dawn Ortiz-Legg has raised in excess of $150,000 more than Republican challenger Jordan Cunningham this year.
As of Sept. 24, Ortiz-Legg has raised $680,058 in total contributions in 2016, about half of which has come from the California Democratic Party and a trio of Democratic central committees. The California Democratic Party has contributed nearly $200,000 to Ortiz-Legg’s campaign, according to her contribution list.
In support of Ortiz-Legg, the state Democratic Party sent out a slate mailer that contained a fabricated court document purporting to show that Cunningham had been the defense attorney in a domestic violence case in which a man attacked his girlfriend and threatened to kill her with a butcher knife. The state Democratic Party has been trying to paint Cunningham as a man who aids criminals, even though Ortiz-Legg has twice been convicted of crimes.
Ortiz-Legg has also received contributions of $75,000 from the Del Norte County Democratic Central Committee, $60,000 from the Democratic Central Committee of Marin and $25,000 from the Mendocino County Democratic Central Committee. Numerous unions and other Assembly candidates have also contributed to Ortiz-Legg’s campaign.
Cunningham has raised $524,055 in total contributions, as of Sept. 24. The California Republican Party is Cunningham’s top donor, though it has only given him about $80,000, according to his contribution list.
Cunningham’s other top donors are the SLO County Republican Central Committee, which has contributed $30,000, and the California Real Estate PAC, which has donated $17,000.
Other donors who have contributed to Cunningham’s campaign include U.S. House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, billionaire philanthropist Charlie Munger, oil company Phillips 66 and tobacco company Philip Morris.
As of Sept. 24, Ortiz-Legg’s campaign has spent $498,875, while Cunningham’s campaign has spent $479,083. Ortiz-Legg had a cash balance of $189,945, and Cunningham had a cash balance of $178,246.
In the June primary, Ortiz-Legg placed first with 44.9 percent of the vote. Cunningham received 37.3 percent. However, Ortiz-Legg was the only Democrat in the primary race, and Cunningham was one of two Republicans.
The 35th District includes all of SLO County and much of Northern Santa Barbara County.
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