Newsom Continues to Dominate Money Race

About six weeks out from California's primary, Lt. Governor Gavin Newsom continues to dominate the fundraising game in the race to become the state's next governor.

After the most recent filing deadline, Newsom reported having raised about $4.6 million this filing period. He has about $20.5 million cash on hand, including nearly $3 million from his 2014 re-election campaign for lieutenant governor.

Newsom's total far exceeds that of his closest Democratic rivals. Former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa raised about $2.4 million in 2018. He has just over $7 million cash on hand. State Treasurer John Chiang reported about $4.4 million in contributions so far this year. He has nearly $7.9 million cash on hand. Former State Superintendent of Public Instruction Delaine Eastin raised about $329,000 and has about $141,000 in the bank.

On the Republican side, San Diego businessman John Cox raised about $1.6 million this reporting period. He has $1.2 million cash on hand.

Huntington Beach Assemblyman Travis Allen raised just over $683,000 and has about $148,000 cash on hand.

In total, Newsom raised twice as much as his nearest competitor and has more cash on hand than all of his competitors combined.

Campaign cash isn't the only place Newsom dominates the governor's race. Multiple polls, including one this week from UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies, show Newsom with a large lead over all of his challengers. But Republican Cox has surged into second in some recent surveys, with Villaraigosa slipping to third or even fourth among likely voters. The top-two vote-getters move on to the general election, regardless of party.