Bay Area’s Munger Spending on Behalf of Daigle in OC’s AD-74 Rises to Over $470,000
Posted by Chris Nguyen on May 23, 2012
Newport Beach Councilwoman Leslie Daigle, Santa Clara County Republican Party Chairman Charles Munger, Jr., and Assemblywoman Beth Gaines
We reported previously here and here about the vast sums of money that Santa Clara County Republican Party Chairman Charles Munger, Jr.’s Spirit of Democracy California PAC has spent on behalf of Newport Beach City Councilwoman Leslie Daigle, who is running against Assemblyman Allan Mansoor and businessman Bob Rush for the 74th Assembly District. (Daigle and Mansoor are both registered Republicans, though it is widely known that Mansoor is the candidate of the conservatives, libertarians, Tea Party, etc. while Daigle is the candidate of the moderate and liberal-leaning factions. Rush became a registered Democrat in February.)
The Spirit of Democracy California PAC formed by Munger, the son and namesake of Warren Buffett’s business partner, has now spent nearly half a million dollars on Daigle’s behalf in the last two weeks. Specifically, it’s $470,671, which is broken down this way:
- May 21: $145,000 for TV Commercials
- May 21: $21,306 for Mailers
- May 21: $20,190 for Mailers
- May 21: $15,619 for Slate Mailers
- May 15: $20,973 for Mailers
- May 14: $180,000 for TV Commercials
- May 14: $20,973 for Mailers
- May 14: $7,500 for Consulting
- May 14: $7,500 for Consulting
- May 14: $25,111 for Mailers
- May 14: $6,499 for Mailers
(Note that the $150,000 previously reported by Munger’s PAC was amended to $180,000 in a subsequent campaign finance report.)
This totals:
- $325,000 for TV Commericals
- $115,052 for Mailers
- $15,619 for Slate Mailers
- $15,000 for Consulting
The only other beneficiary of the largesse of the Spirit of Democracy California PAC is Assemblywoman Beth Gaines (R-Roseville), who has received $175,334 in independent expenditures from the PAC.
Munger has contributed $726,826 to the PAC. Besides Munger, the only other contributor to the PAC is the California Dental Association, which has dropped $150,000. That’s a total of $876,826 in the PAC. They’ve spent a combined $646,005 for Daigle and Gaines, leaving $230,821 available for future spending. Of course, Munger also has the deep pockets to drop far more into the PAC at a day’s notice. After all, he and his sister, Molly Munger, have spent millions of dollars on California ballot measures.
OC Political 
Aaron F Park said
Check again – there has been a bunch of money spent on behalf of Paul Cook for Congress. Have a look at it – I think that is another $70k
Chris Nguyen said
Believe it or not, that’s actually a different Munger PAC, but thanks for the tip. I wasn’t aware of the federal account.
Spirit of Democracy California is the one that’s received $876,826 and spent $646,005 for Daigle and Gaines.
Spirit of Democracy America is the one that’s spent $55,172 for Cook.
We don’t know how much is in the federal account, as only state committees are required to report large contributions within 24 hours. Both federal and state committees are required to report large expenditures within 24 hours, so at least we know how much has been spent.
Needless to say, there’s a whole lot of Munger money going around.
Greg said
Great report Chris. I know many of us Mansoor supporters had been wondering how much actually was being spent on Daigle’s campaign. I hope this motivates all of us to do all we can to ensure that the real conservative is re-elected.
Ray Anderson said
I’m curious how much money has been spent by the County Party in “Member Communications” to offset these IE’s
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