SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Newly filed campaign finance reports show the Republican candidates for statewide office are lagging Democrats in every race, while candidates in the contest that is believed to be the closest, the nonpartisan race for schools superintendent, are more closely matched.
With four weeks remaining before the Nov. 4 election, the two Democrats competing for Superintendent of Public Instruction are campaigning hard. Marshall Tuck, the former head of a Los Angeles charter schools system, has outraised incumbent Tom Torlakson in the race so far. Tuck has nearly $700,000 left after raising $1.6 million, while Torlakson has $609,000 after raising $1.4 million this year.
Fundraising reports for all candidates were due to the secretary of state’s office by midnight Monday and reflect campaign accounts as of Sept. 30.
In the school superintendent’s race, teachers unions also are pouring millions into independent expenditures supporting Torlakson. A committee controlled by the California Teachers Association supporting Torlakson reported that it has spent $2.6 million on the race and has $506,000 left. The union also spent $1.9 million on issue-oriented ads that portray Torlakson in a favorable light.
A new campaign committee supporting Tuck was formed this month, after the reporting deadline, and it already has collected nearly $543,000. That includes $250,000 each from Southern California philanthropists Bill Bloomfield and Eli Broad.
In other races:
— Governor: Gov. Jerry Brown, Democrat, raised $7 million this year and has nearly $24 million remaining. Neel Kashkari, Republican, raised $5.6 million this year and has $680,000 remaining; also owes $143,000.
— Secretary of state: Sen. Alex Padilla, Democrat, raised nearly $2 million this year and has $410,000 remaining; also owes $5,000. Pete Peterson, Republican, raised $253,000 this year and has $53,000 remaining; also owes $81,000.
— Controller: Betty Yee, Democrat, raised more than $1 million this year and has $496,000 remaining; also owes $38,000. Ashley Swearengin, Republican, raised $980,000 this year and has $215,000 remaining; also owes $105,000.
— Treasurer: John Chiang, Democrat, raised $1.7 million this year and has $3.1 million remaining; also owes $13,000. Greg Conlon, Republican, raised $52,000 this year and has $3,800 remaining; also owes $9,000.
— Insurance Commissioner: Dave Jones, Democrat, raised $1.4 million this year and has $2.3 million remaining; also owes $13,000. Ted Gaines, Republican, raised $164,000 this year and has $15,000 remaining; also owes $51,000.
— Lt. Governor: Gavin Newsom, Democrat, raised $1.2 million this year and has $2.5 million remaining; also owes $77,000. Ron Nehring, Republican, raised $66,000 this year and has $21,000 remaining; also owes $1,400.
— Attorney General: Kamala Harris, Democrat, raised $1.3 million this year and has $3.6 million remaining. Ron Gold, Republican, raised $77,000 this year and has $18,000 remaining; also owes $80,000.
