Below are lists of the top 10 contributors to committees supporting and/or opposing state ballot measures that raised at least $1,000,000 for the November 2018 general election.

The lists do not show the total contributions to each committee, only the top 10 contributors who have contributed more than $10,000 to a committee that has raised more than $1,000,000.

For itemized contributions to these committees ($100 or more) and expenditures made by the committees, please click on the name of the committee in the Contributions to Committees, formed to, support or oppose to Ballot Measure(s) tab, to go to the committee's Cal-Access page. 

For additional information on ballot measure financing, go to the CA Secretary of State’s Ballot Measure.

The top 10 lists reflect the most recently available data. During the 90 days before an election the FPPC makes every attempt to ensure that the lists are updated within one business day of receiving new information. Otherwise, the top contributor lists are updated weekly. 

*A contributor whose name is marked with an asterisk made a contribution to a committee that simultaneously supported or opposed more than one potential ballot measure for the same election. Because of this it is not possible to determine the amount of the contribution that was spent specifically on the campaign for any particular measure. In these cases the contributions are listed for every ballot measure the committee has been formed to support or oppose. This results in the same contribution appearing multiple times - once for each ballot measure the committee supports or opposes.

Aggregate Contributions

The following are the total amount donated by top contributors to each state ballot measure that is pending Secretary of State verification or are still circulating for signatures. These lists reflect contributions as reported by Primarily Formed Committees.

Measure Number Support/Oppose Circulating Title Top Aggregated Contributions
1840. (17-0044) Support Restricts Parole for Non-Violent Offenders. Authorizes Felony Sentences for Certain Offenses Currently Treated Only as Misdemeanors. Initiative Statute.  $3,341,800
1851. (17-0055) Support Requires Certain Commercial and Industrial Real Property to be Taxed Based on Fair-Market Value. Dedicates Portion of Any Increased Revenue to Education and Local Services. Initiative Constitutional Amendment.  $2,842,706
1856. (18-0009) Support Referendum to Overturn a 2018 Law that Replaced Money Bail System with a System Based on Public Safety Risk. $2,910,208
Total from top contributors $9,094,714

Contributions to Committees

17-0044

Qualified for November 2020
Supporting

Keep California Safe, a Project of the California Public Safety Partnership Issues Committee

Opposing

No committee opposing this ballot measure raised enough money to reach the reporting threshold for this list.

17-0055

Not a Qualified Ballot Measure
Supporting

Schools and Communities First sponsored by a Coalition of Social Justice Organizations Representing Families and Students

Number Contributor State Total Contributions
1 The San Francisco Foundation CA $706,300
2

Million Voter Project Action Fund - Yes on 56 and 57, Sponsored by Social Justice Organizations

Top Donors to Contributor: Chan Zuckerberg Advocacy; Committee for Working Families, Sponsored by the California Labor Federation, AFL-CIO

CA $400,000
3 United Teachers of Los Angeles - Political Action Council of Educators (PACE) Issues CA $350,000
4

Chan Zuckerberg Advocacy

Top Donor to Contributor: Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, LLC

CA $300,000
5

California Calls Action Fund for Schools and Communities First (Nonprofit (c)(4))

Top Donors to Contributor: The San Francisco Foundation; Heising-Simons Action Fund

CA $287,632
6 Stephen English CA $249,230
7 Elizabeth Simons CA $150,000
8 PICO Action Fund DC $145,000
9

California Federation of Teachers COPE PROP/Ballot Committee

Top Donors to Contributor: United Educators of San Francisco/AFT Local 61 (Unitemized Member Contributions); Los Angeles College Faculty Guild AFT Local 1521 (Unitemized Member Contributions)

CA $129,544
10

California Calls Education Fund for Schools and Communities First (Nonprofit 501(c)(3))

Top Donors to Contributor: California Federation of Teachers; United Teachers Los Angeles

CA $125,000
Total from top contributors $2,842,706

Opposing

No committee opposing this ballot measure raised enough money to reach the reporting threshold for this list.

18-0009

Not a Qualified Ballot Measure
Supporting

Californians Against the Reckless Bail Scheme, sponsored by the American Bail Coalition

Number Contributor State Total Contributions
1 Triton Management Services, LLC CA $794,331
2 Financial Casualty & Surety, Inc. TX $444,496
3 Lexington National Insurance Corporation MD $401,116
4 Bankers Insurance Company FL $384,632
5 AIA Holdings Inc. CA $233,578
6 American Surety Compnay IN $211,350
7 Accredited Surety and Casualty FL $172,909
8 Bail USA, Inc. PA $147,795
9 DMCG, Inc. CA $100,000
10 Act Fast Bail Bonds CA $20,000
Total from top contributors $2,910,208

Opposing

No committee opposing this ballot measure raised enough money to reach the reporting threshold for this list.

Circulating Ballot Measures Not on the List

Visit the Attorney General's website for information on measures currently collecting signatures to qualify for the November 2018 election where the committees supporting or opposing have not reached the $1,000,000 reporting threshold.

Pending Statewide Ballot Measures

Information about proposed initiative and referendum measures that have been submitted to the Attorney General for preparation of the circulating title and summary can be found on the Secretary of State's website. When the official circulating title and summary is complete, the Attorney General forwards it to the proponent(s) and to the Secretary of State. The Secretary of State then provides calendar deadlines to the proponent(s) and to the county elections officials.

Additional Resources

For more information about the Top 10 lists and the relevant legal authorities, go to Methodology and Legal Resources