The Rainmakers: California's top political donors, 2001-2011
Lavishing their largesse on legislators and political committees alike, the largest donors to California politics spent $1.25 billion from 2001 through 2011. The group — 50 special interests and 50 wealthy individuals — spans the Golden State's social order. They are corporate leaders and venture capitalists, real estate developers and Hollywood scions. They are energy and tobacco companies, labor unions and tribal governments. Collectively, they shelled out a third of all the money given to campaigns in the state during the 11-year period. This data includes only contributions to candidates and ballot measure committees, not independent expenditure groups.
Drive by Donor
Not based in California? No problem. California politics doesn't care where the checks come from. This badge specifically honors donors who do not call the Golden State home. Nonresidents or companies based out of state that drop significant cash in only a few elections are our Drive-By Donors.
| 8 | Philip Morris USA Inc., Richmond, VA Tobacco company 364 donations: 286 to candidates, 67 to ballot measures and 11 to parties |
|
$39,553,382 |
| 11 | R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., Winston-Salem, NC Tobacco company 354 donations: 251 to candidates, 84 to ballot measures and 19 to parties |
|
$25,850,024 |
| 23 | Pfizer Inc., New York, NY Pharmaceutical company 490 donations: 432 to candidates, 8 to ballot measures and 50 to parties |
|
$11,605,296 |
| 24 | Johnson & Johnson Services, Inc., New Brunswick, NJ Pharmaceutical company 348 donations: 314 to candidates, 11 to ballot measures and 23 to parties |
|
$11,499,576 |
| 26 | GlaxoSmithKline, London, England Pharmaceutical company 727 donations: 701 to candidates, 7 to ballot measures and 19 to parties |
|
$10,945,786 |
| 29 | Merck & Co. Inc., Whitehouse Station, NJ Pharmaceutical company 220 donations: 215 to candidates, 3 to ballot measures and 2 to parties |
|
$10,189,760 |
| 5 | Peter V. Sperling, Phoenix, AZ University of Phoenix 24 donations: 13 to candidates, 7 to ballot measures and 4 to parties |
|
$9,155,000 |
| 49 | Eli Lilly and Co., Indianapolis, IN Pharmaceutical Company 668 donations: 647 to candidates, 4 to ballot measures and 17 to parties |
|
$5,706,051 |
| 13 | Robert "Bob" W. Wilson, Brooklyn, NY Investor 5 donations: 0 to candidates, 5 to ballot measures and 0 to parties |
|
$4,000,100 |
| 16 |
T. Boone Pickens Jr., Dallas, TX
Energy and oil
13 donations: 4 to candidates, 5 to ballot measures and 4 to parties
|
|
$3,735,800 |
| 21 |
George Soros, Westchester, NY
Investment management
8 donations: 1 to candidates, 7 to ballot measures and 0 to parties
|
|
$3,035,000 |
| 25 | Bradley Wayne Hughes, Lexington, KY Public Storage 20 donations: 9 to candidates, 5 to ballot measures and 6 to parties |
|
$2,276,700 |
| 32 |
John G. Sperling, Phoenix, AZ
University of Phoenix
22 donations: 12 to candidates, 6 to ballot measures and 4 to parties
|
|
$1,799,800 |
| 41 |
Frank E. Baxter
Investment management
143 donations: 110 to candidates, 13 to ballot measures and 20 to parties
|
|
$1,445,506 |
Source: Contribution data from National Institute on Money in State Politics
Credits: Interactive by Michael Corey, Coulter Jones and Chase Davis. Reporting by Coulter Jones. Badge design by Thomas Guffey. Additional reporting by Stanford University students enrolled in a Communications Department investigative reporting class under the direction of California Watch Editorial Director Mark Katches. The project began in January 2011. Students participating were: Devin Banerjee, Daniel Bohm, Kathleen Chaykowski, Tom Corrigan, Cassandra Feliciano, Jamie Hansen, Amy Harris, Josh Hicks, Ellen Huet, Julia James, Paul Jones, Ryan Mac, Valentina Nesci, Dean Schaffer, Elizabeth Titus and Kareem Yasin. Bohm, Hansen, Huet, Harris and Titus continued to work on the project as California Watch interns under the direction of Associate Editor Denise Zapata.
Produced by
With data collected by
Photos provided by
