Dyer, Other Valley Pols Turn Out for Attorney General Challenger's Fundraiser
gvw_david_taub
By David Taub, Senior Reporter
Published 3 years ago on
July 7, 2021
Anne Marie Schubert (left) and Rob Bonta are running for Attorney General (GV Wire Composite/Justine Cha)

Share

Money is piling up in the state Attorney General’s race.

Incumbent Rob Bonta, appointed in March to the vacant position, has reported $1.4 million raised since April. Anne Marie Schubert says she’s raised $1 million in just two months since announcing her run for state attorney general.

Nathan Hochman, a former assistant U.S. Attorney, raised $548,700.

The figures are based on donations of $5,000 or more, which must be reported within 10 business days of receipt. GV Wire could only verify $199,400 for Schubert.

The numbers are through July 2. Full financial figures won’t be released until Aug. 2.

Schubert Campaigns in Fresno

Last month, Fresno County District Attorney Lisa Smittcamp and other top names in law enforcement hosted a fundraiser for Schubert at Pardini’s in Fresno. Several top local political leaders attended the June 24 dinner, including Fresno Mayor Jerry Dyer.

“It was a phenomenal event. The turnout was incredible. I give a lot of credit to to the folks that helped organize it, especially Lisa Smittcamp and the individuals that were helping her,” Schubert said.

Schubert, the law-and-order Sacramento County District Attorney, is running against Bonta — who was appointed to the seat in March by Gov. Gavin Newsom. Bonta succeeded Xavier Becerra — who resigned to become President Joe Biden’s Health and Human Services secretary — and plans to run for the seat again in 2022.

Bonta’s campaign team is not impressed with Schubert’s reported totals. They say they will release their figures “soon.”

“I can confirm AG Bonta raised well above Hochman and Schubert. Schubert is basing her campaign on nothing more than empty rhetoric and no actual solutions — all while trying hide from her history as a lifelong Republican and getting badly outraised by her GOP rival Hochman. Californians want solutions, and that’s what they are getting from AG Bonta,” campaign spokesman Nathan Click said.

Hochman, in a news release, is proud of his take.

“I am humbled by the generous support we have received from concerned citizens across California,” Hochman said. “In the few weeks since announcing this campaign, it has been crystal clear to me that Californians are ready for change in Sacramento and want new leaders who put public safety first.”

From left to right: Tulare County DA Tim Ward, Madera County DA Sally Moreno, Sacramento County DA and Attorney General candidate Anne Marie Schubert, Kern County DA Cynthia Zimmer and Fresno County DA Lisa Smittcamp (Image: Cynthia Zimmer campaign/Facebook)

Running As If She is Behind

Bonta is a Democrat, serving more than eight years in the state assembly representing Oakland. He will have his party behind him.

Schubert is registered as no party preference, shedding her Republican affiliation years ago.

“I don’t consider public safety to be an ‘R’ or ‘D’ issue. It’s not. Everybody wants to feel safe in their homes and raise their children in a safe neighborhood. And that cuts across all demographics and all zip codes and all parties. And so when you look at who’s got the experience, there’s no question I’m the person that has that. Bonta has never been a prosecutor, never sat with victims families or any of that stuff,” Schubert said.

Hochamn is a Republican from southern California.

Schubert is prepared to fight from behind, moneywise.

“I’ve been involved in public policy initiatives that were outspent and they still won. So it’s all about having the ability to tell the public and the voters who you are and why you’re doing this and why you’re the right person,” Schubert said. “I’m going to run my race. I always consider myself running 10 points behind because I know how hard it is to to do this. I am relentless. I mean, that’s just who I am as a person.”

Her campaign strategy is to travel the state to let voters outside Sacramento know who she is.

Who is Giving

Attorney General candidate Nathan Hochman (Image: Hochman campaign)

Although the only publicly available financial figures are for those who gave $5,000 or more, Bonta is blitzing his competition.

His donors come from expected Democratic sources — unions and attorney groups. Several of his large-scale donors come from the gaming industry, both card rooms and Indian casinos. Both those groups can be at odds over the future of California gaming.

One local donor appears in Bonta’s rolls — beverage distributor Donaghy Sales, who gave two checks for $8,100 each (the maximum allowed for each cycle, both primary and general elections).

Hochman’s donors are mainly attorneys and real estate developers from Southern California.

Schubert has raised from a variety of attorney and developer groups. Her only local donor is Carol Copeland, a physician. Figures from her Fresno fundraiser, if greater than $5,000, should be released later this week.

Some political watchers have noted that Angelo Tsakopoulos, real estate developer and father of Lt. Governor Eleni Kounalakis — a Democrat — contributed two payments of $8,100 to Schubert.

Other candidates with 2022 AG campaign accounts — Democrat Lou Correa and Republicans Steven Bailey and Eric Early — have not filed campaign finance documents.

RELATED TOPICS:

DON'T MISS

FresYes Fest Is Saturday: This Immigrant Is Living the American Dream With Xtreme Shawarma

DON'T MISS

Will FUSD Trustees Look First Only at Internal Candidates in Superintendent Search?

DON'T MISS

Bredefeld, Chavez Win Attorneys Fees from Fresno County. Court Gives Chavez Blvd. a Green Light.

DON'T MISS

Special Congressional Election Tuesday. How Many Have Voted Already?

DON'T MISS

Brothers Say They Found Amelia Earhart’s Plane, Will Donate It to Smithsonian

DON'T MISS

News Minute: Amelia Earhart’s Lost Plane, McIlroy’s Wild 65, Fresno Eclipse Chasers

DON'T MISS

These Fresno Eclipse Chasers Are Hoping For 4 Minutes of Darkened Bliss in Texas

DON'T MISS

Hutson Is Done as Fresno State Basketball Coach After Tournament Loss

DON'T MISS

New Challenge to SW Fresno Industrial Project: SoCal Enviro Group Sues City, Developer

DON'T MISS

Realtor Association Settles Lawsuit on Commission Rules. Fresno Broker Fears the End of Market Transparency

No data was found
David Taub,
Senior Reporter
Curiosity drives David Taub. The award-winning journalist might be shy, but feels mighty with a recorder in his hand. He doesn't see it his job to "hold public officials accountable," but does see it to provide readers (and voters) the information needed to make intelligent choices. Taub has been honored with several writing awards from the California News Publishers Association. He's just happy to have his stories read. Joining GV Wire in 2016, Taub covers politics, government and elections, mainly in the Fresno/Clovis area. He also writes columns about local eateries (Appetite for Fresno), pro wrestling (Off the Bottom Rope), and media (Media Man). Prior to joining the online news source, Taub worked as a radio producer for KMJ and PowerTalk 96.7 in Fresno. He also worked as an assignment editor for KCOY-TV in Santa Maria, California, and KSEE-TV in Fresno. He has also worked behind the scenes for several sports broadcasts, including the NCAA basketball tournament, and the Super Bowl. When not spending time with his family, Taub loves to officially score Fresno Grizzlies games. Growing up in the San Francisco Bay Area, Taub is a die-hard Giants and 49ers fan. He graduated from the University of Michigan with dual degrees in communications and political science. Go Blue! You can contact David at 559-492-4037 or at Send an Email

The 49ers Have Been Docked a 2025 Fifth-Round Draft Pick for an Accounting Error

11 hours ago

Fresno Bank Sued. It Allegedly Helped Bitwise Commit Fraud.

Bitwise /

11 hours ago

How California’s Prized Solution for Methane Gas Is Backfiring on Farmers

Environment /

14 hours ago

Supreme Court Seems Favorable to Biden Administration Over Efforts to Combat Social Media Posts

14 hours ago

Putin Extends Rule in Preordained Russian Election After Harshest Crackdown Since Soviet Era

15 hours ago

Ohtani to Begin Throwing Program Soon. Roberts Hints Dodgers Star Might Play in the Field

15 hours ago

Trump: Some Migrants Are ‘Not People’, There’ll Be a ‘Bloodbath’ if I Lose

15 hours ago

Tech Lawyer and Philanthropist Nicole Shanahan Rumored as RFK Jr.’s VP Pick

News /

15 hours ago

March Madness is Here. UConn, Purdue, Houston and North Carolina Get Top Seeding in NCAA Tournament

16 hours ago

Crafts Retailer Joann Files for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy as Consumers Cut Back on Pandemic-Era Hobbies

16 hours ago

Records Show That Valley Children’s Leader Suntrapak’s Pay Exceeds $5 Million

■Valley Children’s paid CEO Todd Suntrapak $5.2 million in 2021. The hospital also gave him a $5 million forgivable home loan. ■The Va...
Healthcare /

10 hours ago

Healthcare /
10 hours ago

Records Show That Valley Children’s Leader Suntrapak’s Pay Exceeds $5 Million

Local Education /
10 hours ago

3 Valley Schools Honored by State as Model Community Day Schools

Local Education /
11 hours ago

Will FUSD Trustees Look First Only at Internal Candidates in Superintendent Search?

11 hours ago

The 49ers Have Been Docked a 2025 Fifth-Round Draft Pick for an Accounting Error

Bitwise /
11 hours ago

Fresno Bank Sued. It Allegedly Helped Bitwise Commit Fraud.

Environment /
14 hours ago

How California’s Prized Solution for Methane Gas Is Backfiring on Farmers

14 hours ago

Supreme Court Seems Favorable to Biden Administration Over Efforts to Combat Social Media Posts

15 hours ago

Putin Extends Rule in Preordained Russian Election After Harshest Crackdown Since Soviet Era

MENU

CONNECT WITH US

Search

Send this to a friend