Fueled by unlimited donations, independent groups play their biggest role yet in a California primary for governor
An unprecedented amount of money from wealthy donors, unions and corporations is flowing into the California governor's race, giving independent groups - unrestricted by contribution limits - a greater say in picking the state's chief executive than ever before.
The groups have already spent more than $26 million through Thursday, the most ever spent by non-candidate committees in a gubernatorial primary, according to a Los Angeles Times analysis of campaign finance reports.
"California elections have always been expensive, and the future is even more expensive," said Jack Pitney, a political science professor at Claremont McKenna College and a former state Republican leader. "The stakes are very real."
To be sure, California has seen high-spending elections before. GOP nominee Meg Whitman shattered records when she spent $178.5 million on an unsuccessful gubernatorial
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