SACRAMENTO, California — California gubernatorial campaigns for state Sen. Toni Atkins and former Controller Betty Yee on Monday sought donations that might be break up between themselves and Vice President Kamala Harris, an unusual try and concurrently fundraise for state and federal races via one texting marketing campaign.
Each 2026 contenders have endorsed Harris to interchange President Joe Biden since he withdrew from the race on Sunday, as has just about each distinguished California Democrat from Rep. Nancy Pelosi to Gov. Gavin Newsom. The statewide candidates’ messages to potential donors punctuate the celebration’s coalescence round Harris whereas additionally stressing Atkins’ and Yee’s anti-Trump bona fides.
“I used to be thrilled to assist Kamala’s marketing campaign for President again in 2020, and I’m honored to endorse Kamala Harris as soon as once more to be the following President of the US,” Atkins’ textual content stated. “Nobody is extra certified to tackle Donald Trump and win in November.”
Atkins went on to ask for donations that might be divided evenly between her marketing campaign and Harris’, via a link to a web page on ActBlue — the Democratic fundraising community. Yee’s fundraising textual content offered a similar ActBlue link.
“I do know now we have the best particular person to face up for our rights and protections,” Yee’s textual content stated. “Now greater than ever, it’s essential that our celebration and nation swiftly unite to defeat Donald Trump.”
It’s not unusual for statewide Democrats to drum up funding for his or her celebration’s presidential ticket. Newsom has used his fundraising equipment and donor lists to tug in money for Biden, and he despatched a plea on Monday for donations that might be break up between three out-of-state congressional candidates and Harris. Seemingly extra uncommon is the method taken by Atkins and Yee: giving celebration devoted the prospect to donate to a state and federal candidate with just one bank card cost. In distinction, different campaigns for governor have centered on solo fundraising pitches in latest days.
Atkins’ marketing campaign offered an inventory to POLITICO of a dozen candidates who’ve despatched break up donation requests to learn themselves and Harris during the last two days, although just one was by a state-level candidate. The remaining sought donations for congressional candidates, political motion committees or native Democratic events, a few of which may benefit state and native candidates.
Yee didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark.
The method could possibly be an try at breaking via a crowded subject to interchange Newsom, which lacks a transparent frontrunner. And although the present governor’s last time period gained’t finish for greater than two years, campaigns have been underway for over a yr. Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis entered the race first in April of 2023, and rapidly secured a fundraising edge because of her early candidacy, connections to deep-pocketed donors and familial wealth.
That has seemingly put stress on challengers to announce their candidacies early; state faculty Superintendent Tony Thurmond has already jumped in. So too has Yee, a former state controller, and Atkins, who led the state Senate and Meeting. California Lawyer Normal Rob Bonta is anticipated to run and POLITICO has reported that U.S. Well being and Human Companies Secretary Xavier Becerra is mulling a marketing campaign for the place.
