Newsom’s anti-recall funding underscores gov’t union sway

Examining key donations from Gov. Newsom’s anti-recall campaign, policy analyst Brandon Ristoff breaks down the biggest collective contributors as government unions — including multiple teachers unions (over $2.3 million total), a peace officers association ($1.75 million), and a service employees union ($1 million). Ristoff’s analysis highlights the dangers of sizable, formidable unions working with politicians to scratch each other’s backs.

There was a time when California Democrats worried about money in politics. But that anxiety has eased with the rising tide of money — lots of money — flowing into Democrat political campaigns from government unions.

It’s important to note that campaign donations do not work in a recall as they do in a traditional gubernatorial election. For recall committees, there is no limit to how much donors can give. But the recall’s second question (who should replace Newsom if he was recalled) functioned on rules similar to those governing a traditional gubernatorial campaign with the usual campaign limits. You may have noticed that nearly all of the anti-recall commercials included a disclosure that they were funded by the “Stop the Republican Recall” (STRR) committee, not “Newsom 2021.”

Taken together, the committees supporting Newsom brought him almost $80 million.

The Government (Public Sector) Unions

Collectively, some of Newsom’s greatest contributors were the government unions. Over $11.5 million came from public sector unions representing government employees. The single greatest government union contribution ($1.8 million) came from the California Teachers Association. Other teachers unions contributed: the California Federation of Teachers ($252,585) and the American Federation of Teachers ($250,000). Not to be ignored, other government unions played big-donor roles: the California Correctional Peace Officers Association ($1.75 million), SEIU Local 1000 ($1 million). Unions that cover both public and private sectors also gave about $4.4 million.

This article originally appeared in the California Policy Center. Read the whole thing here.

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Image by Karolina Grabowska