Californiainfluencers
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CaliforniaInfluencers alifornia, once a conservative stronghold and the cradle of the Reagan Revolution, has been trending Democratic for years Cnow—and this year it was one of the few states where Demo- crats held their own against the extremely strong national Republican tide. In the top statewide contests, voters decisively chose veteran liberal Democrats Barbara Boxer for senator and Jerry “Moonbeam” Brown for governor over political newcomers who argued that their corporate experience made them ideally suited to guide the state through dire eco- nomic times. Democrats also continue to hold a significant edge in the state’s congressional delegation. While they may tilt to the left on average, successful California politi- cians run the gamut from Barbara Lee, the East Bay representative who was the only member of Congress to vote against the 2001 resolution authorizing the use of force in response to the 9/11 attacks, to Devin Nunes, the Central Valley representative who called the Obama admin- istration’s health care reform bill part of a plan to impose a “Socialist utopia” on the American people. Here is our list of the top 100 players in California politics today. TOP 50 Democrats Jerry Brown staff, helped position Schwarzeneg- state, and his record of victories speaks The governor-elect is an everlasting po- ger for re-election and remains heavily for itself. litical tactician and campaigner. He has involved. held local office, statewide office and Dave Low ran for national office before starting all Eli Broad A powerful lobbyist at the California over again. A Los Angeles real estate developer and School Employees’ Association, he is a philanthropist, Broad is a major donor to resource for those in the labor move- Susan Kennedy Democrats and their causes. ment making decisions about where to Chief of staff to Governor Schwarzeneg- put money in competitive campaigns. ger, former executive director of the Haim Saban Democratic Party and staffer to Dianne The creator of the Power Rangers, Art Pulaski Feinstein, she handles everything that Saban is a former member of the UC Under his leadership the California La- goes through the governor’s office. Board of Regents and a major donor to bor Federation has grown and become the Democratic Party. a more powerful force. Nancy Pelosi She may have just lost the speakership, Richard Blum Doug Herman but she was the first woman elected Blum is Senator Dianne Feinstein’s hus- A principal in the Strategy Group, Her- to the position and still wields a heavy band. He is an investment banker and man is based out of Los Angeles. He hand back home. a regent of the University of California, has worked on the Obama campaign, and in the past he has served as chair- initiative campaigns and closely with Dianne Feinstein man of its board. Assembly Speaker John Perez. California’s 800-pound gorilla, she is usually the most popular elected official Gale Kaufman Dan Weitzman in the state because of her perfect A fixture in the consulting world of Cali- He is the head fundraiser for Democratic alignment with the California elector- fornia politics, Kaufman has led Demo- leaders in the legislature and has held ate, just left of center. Her support and cratic Caucus campaigns, numerous this position through leadership changes. endorsement is a gift to any politico. proposition campaigns and Bradley for President in 2000. She is also known Alice Huffman Barbara Boxer for being fiercely tough and for rising to Leader of the California NAACP and Considered not as effective as Fein- the top in the male-dominated world of a political consultant, Huffman has stein and not nearly as popular with political consulting. parlayed both positions to create a the general population, but more powerful career for herself. popular among Democrats and an icon Maria Elena Durazo for liberals across the country. What She is head of the Los Angeles County Acosta/Salazar Jesse Helms was for the right, she is Federation of Labor, one of the most Andrew Acosta and Roger Salazar have for the left. powerful interest groups in a Democrat- headed this Democratic consulting firm ic state in the most populous county in for five years now. Before starting the firm, John Perez the country. Durazo took charge of the Acosta worked under Gale Kaufman, and One of several Latino speakers who organization following the death of her Salazar was a spokesperson for President have led the Assembly, Perez is the first husband, Miguel Contreras, who used to Clinton and Governor Davis. openly gay person of color to be elected head the organization. to the body and lead it. Dustin Corcoran John Burton Still in his thirties, Corcoran has risen to Darrell Steinberg A San Francisco liberal, Burton has nev- the head of the California Medical Asso- The leader of the Senate, he is more er changed his stripes. He has served ciation, a powerful bipartisan organiza- policy focused than political, but when in the California Assembly, Senate and tion. His work for the organization for Steinberg needs to flex his political U.S. House. With decades of politics in over a decade prepared him for the lead muscle in Sacramento he does. his blood he couldn’t just ride off into role and he has hired a strong support- the sunset and currently serves as the ing staff to help guide him. Maria Shriver chair of the state Democratic Party. As California’s first lady she wasn’t Antonio Villaraigosa involved much in the first year of her Parke Skelton The former State Assembly speaker and husband’s tenure as governor, but after A successful campaign consultant and current mayor of Los Angeles has been some significant losses at the ballot progressive Democrat, Skelton has a national representative for Latinos. box, she came in, got involved in hiring elected numerous politicians across the He is in his second term as mayor and November/December 2010 | Campaigns & Elections 55 CaliforniaInfluencers decided not to run for governor, but just makes day-to-day decisions as Jerry Brown showed, you can always that keep the party in power resurrect yourself. running smoothly. Bill Lockyer Griffin/Schake A powerful force in California politics Political consultants and com- and the Democratic Party, Lockyer munications experts Chad hasn’t quite made it to the top office— Griffin and Kristina Schake governor—but his name has been men- bring the political, Hollywood tioned often. He served as leader of the and corporate worlds together State Senate for over a decade, moved in their Los Angeles–based to the attorney general’s office and is firm, creating a powerful mix of currently treasurer. influential and wealthy clients. Josh Pulliam David Binder Another young Democratic consultant Binder is a top pollster and in his thirties, Pulliam got his training consultant in California who with AKPD Media, founded by David was able to move to the nation- Axelrod. He is rising fast in Sacramento, al stage in 2008 as a member and is considered a smart, fresh top-tier of the Obama campaign. consultant. Angelo Tsakopoulos Reed Hastings Gavin Newsom A major donor to Democratic causes The founder of Netflix, Hastings is a The mayor of San Francisco has had and candidates, Tsakopoulos spent huge donor to education reform issues. some ups and downs, but his star over $10 million the year his business His candidate for state superintendent hasn’t faded. Known across the country partner, Phil Angelides, ran for governor. of public instruction lost this year, but for performing gay marriages, he Along with his daughter, Eleni Tsako- his pockets are deep and he is dedi- aborted a run for governor, but jumped poulos Kounalakis, who is ambassador cated to education reform. back into the ring and was just elected to Hungary, he is heavily involved in lieutenant governor. Democratic politics. Anne Gust Not just a behind-the-scenes wife of Gloria Molina Rose Ann DeMaro governor-elect Jerry Brown, Gust has Latinos have seen their political power As executive director of the Califor- taken official roles on his staff. She skyrocket in the last fifteen years. Some nia Nurses Association, DeMaro has was an unpaid advisor in her husband’s have risen and then fallen, but Gloria successfully battled Governor Schwar- attorney general’s office and a senior Molina has remained a steady force. zenegger and helped position the CNA advisor on his gubernatorial campaign. She was the first Latina elected to the as one of the state’s most powerful California Assembly, to the Los Angeles interest groups. Daniel Zingale City Council and to her current position Former chief of staff to Maria Shriver as a Los Angeles County supervisor, Andy Spahn and senior advisor to Schwarzeneg- overseeing a county that has about For years Spahn was the liaison for ger and currently vice president of the the same population as the state of corporate, political and governmental California Endowment, he is still called Michigan. affairs for Spielberg, Katzenberg and upon by his former boss and other Geffen, which led the way for many elected officials for advice. Ace Smith donors in Hollywood. Spahn has since This Bay Area–based Democratic con- gone out on his own, doing the same Lance Olson sultant has worked on numerous cam- type of work for his clients. Olson has been advising Democrats paigns, from Hillary Clinton’s presiden- about political law for nearly three tial campaign to those of California’s Karen Skelton/Steve Smith decades. He provides advice on how to two Democratic senators and governors Two principals at Dewey Square with circumvent legal hurdles in fundraising.