The big-money Democrats with a different Yes on 50 strategy [View all]

Source: Politico

09/15/2025 07:32 PM EDT


While nearly every prominent Democrat in Sacramento and Washington has backed Gov. Gavin Newsom’s snap-gerrymander, one group seeded by wealthy foundations and progressive donors is staking out its own strategy.

The Progressive Era Issues Committee, a year-old committee whose funders include Democratic fundraiser and donor Quinn Delaney, has entered the conflict over Proposition 50 by working to mobilize lower-propensity left-leaning voters who they say are inclined to tune out Newsom and the nationalized combat he embodies.

“Democrat versus Republican battles — they don’t feel that’s their battle,” said Ludovic Blain , director of the California Donor Table, which coordinates giving to progressive causes. “So we’re funding groups to make sure people who don’t feel a part of partisan battles feel what’s at stake, which is pushing back on federal fascism, making sure voters can pick the politicians they want, and protecting American democracy.”

The new outfit is a much leaner effort than Democrats’ principal Prop 50 committee, which has pulled in more than $15 million just from the national party and labor unions (plus $250,000 from Delaney). The Progressive Era Issues Committee has thus far raised around one-tenth of that total, relying on a handful of wealthy liberals and nonprofits that have in turn been backed by affluent individuals like former Google CEO Eric Schmidt and his wife, Wendy, who together gave $1 million last week.

Read more: https://www.politico.com/news/2025/09/15/big-money-democrats-50-strategy-00565008