California recall election money: Newsom vs. Elder, Jenner and Cox - Los Angeles Timestwitterfacebookenvelope

Track the millions funding the campaign to recall California’s governor

Tens of millions of dollars have been raised in the race to recall Gov. Gavin Newsom. Here’s where things stand.

$45.3 million
supporting the recall
$83.4 million
opposing the recall

Who has raised the most?

Newsom backers opposing the recall have assembled the largest haul, thanks to fundraising accounts that allow donors to contribute unlimited amounts of cash. Similar committees in favor of the recall have also taken in millions, without backing a particular candidate.

Newsom’s campaign committee has its own war chest, as do his challengers’ campaigns, a growing field that includes Republicans John Cox and Kevin Faulconer, as well as radio host Larry Elder and reality TV star Caitlyn Jenner.

Total raised
Anti-recall committees
A coalition opposing the recall election
$72,794,672
Larry Elder
Talk show host
13,950,103
Pro-recall committees
A coalition working to recall Newsom
11,441,676
John Cox
Businessman and venture capitalist
11,235,636
Gavin Newsom
Governor
10,555,589
Kevin Faulconer
Former mayor of San Diego
4,132,728
Kevin Kiley
Assemblymember
1,059,288
Caitlyn Jenner
Olympian and reality TV star
885,643
Jenny Rae Le Roux
Businesswoman and author
775,836
Doug Ose
Former congressman from California
526,310
Kevin Paffrath
Real estate broker and YouTuber
463,603
Edward Moore Gaines
Member of the State Board of Equalization
284,697
Jeff Hewitt
Riverside County supervisor
189,307
Anthony D. Trimino
Businessman
127,676
Samuel L. Gallucci
Senior pastor
119,555
Leo Zacky
Businessman
52,450
Jacqueline McGowan
Cannabis advocate
31,487
Sarah Stephens
Paster and motivational speaker
29,396
Diego J. Martinez
Businessman
24,843
Joel A. Ventresca
Former member of the San Francisco Airport Commission
9,300
James G. Hanink
Former university professor
3,639
Steve Chavez Lodge
Businessman
1,000

Newsom’s defense is outpacing the competition

The governor’s effort to stay in office was boosted by massive infusions of cash to anti-recall campaigns after the recall petition drive gathered steam this spring.

Where is the money coming from?

Receipts filed by the campaigns show the areas they rely on to raise money. The largest sums opposing the recall are flowing in from Sacramento County, home to the statehouse and a broad array of well-resourced lobbying groups.

Top donors supporting the recall

The list of largest donors in favor of the recall includes Republican Party groups and wealthy individuals like Los Angeles real estate developer Geoffrey Palmer. Cox is again largely self-funding his campaign, as he did in the 2018 gubernatorial election he lost to Newsom.

Total raised
John Cox
Candidate and businessman. Cox has also donated to his campaign
$9,775,868
Geoffrey Palmer
Real estate developer with multiple Downtown L.A. properties. Has also donated to Faulconer and Elder
1,264,800
Prov 3:9 LLC
Orange County consulting firm
500,000
Jenny Rae Le Roux
Candidate and businesswoman. Le Roux has donated to her campaign
300,000
Lincoln Club of Orange County
Conservative donor group
298,000
Dixon and Carol Doll
Co-founder Doll Capital Management and wife
248,000
Saul Fox
Private equity executive. Also donated to Elder
232,400
Huck PAC
Affiliated with former governor of Arkansas, Mike Huckabee
225,000
California Republican Party
Affliate of the national Repubican Party (GOP)
187,218
Boyett Petroleum
Modesto-based fuel supplier. Also contributed to Faulconer
181,400
Douglas Leone and Patricia Perkins-Leone
Venture capitalist and wife
149,800
David and Jacqueline Sacks
General partner at Craft Ventures and wife
140,000
Howard and Susan Groff
Owners of construction rental company. Also donated to Faulconer
139,800
Gerald and Carol Marcil
Palos Verdes Investments president and wife. Donated to Faulconer
129,600
Angelique Griepp
Made In A Free World board member
112,000
Kilroy Realty
Real estate developer. Has also contributed to Faulconer
107,300
Chamath Palihapitiya
Founder and CEO of Social Capital
100,000
Hofmann Land Development
Real estate developer
99,500
Kevin Paffrath
Candidate and real estate broker. Donated to his campaign
90,000
Robert Parsons
Businessman and co-founder of GoDaddy
69,800
Anthony Trimino
Candidate and businessman. Donated to his campaign
52,000

Top donors opposing the recall

Newsom’s defense is funded in large part by left-leaning millionaires and California lobbying groups, a coalition similar to the one that backed him in 2018 with one large exception: Netflix CEO Reed Hastings.

The streaming mogul donated millions to rival Democrat Antonio Villaraigosa when he opposed Newsom. Hastings and his wife Patty Quillin are now the top donors to Newsom’s cause.

Total raised
Reed Hastings and Patty Quillin
Netflix CEO and wife. Also donated to Newsom
$3,124,000
California Democratic Party
Affiliate of the national Democratic Party
2,511,009
Dignity CA SEIU Local 2015
Advocates for long term caregivers
2,283,734
California Teachers Assn.
Advocates for teachers statewide
1,815,615
California Correctional Peace Officers Assn.
Advocates for prison guards
1,750,000
California Real Estate PAC
Backs candidates or ballot initiatives that support the goals of the California Association of Realtors. Also donated to Newsom
1,532,400
California Building Industry Assn.
Trade association advocates for the building industry. Also donated to Newsom
1,163,400
Mark W. Heising and Elizabeth D. Simons
Founders of the Heising-Simons Foundation. Simons has also donated to Newsom
1,072,400
Professional Engineers in California Government PAC
Advocates for state-employed engineers and related professionals. Has also contributed to Newsom
1,064,800
SEIU Local 1000
Advocates for SEIU members. Also contributed to Newsom
1,031,000
AFSCME
Advocates for public employees
1,019,475
George Soros
Founder of a investment management firm and Democratic mega-donor. Also donated to Newsom
1,012,500
George M. Marcus
Real estate broker
1,000,000
California State Association of Electrical Workers
Works to improve conditions for all IBEW locals
1,000,000
Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria
Located in Sonoma County
750,000
California Dental Assn. PAC
Advocates for dentists. Has also given to Newsom
532,400
Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians
Based in the Palm Springs area
500,000
United Nurses Association of California/Union of Healthcare Professionals
Union representing registered nurses and healthcare workers
500,000
Stewart and Lynda Resnick
Billionaire couple behind Fiji Water and POM Wonderful. Lynda Resnick has also given to Newsom
314,800