Polls indicated the race for the state Senate District 28 seat between Republican incumbent Jeff Stone and Democratic challenger Joy Silver is tightening. Financial contributions seem to support Silver’s closing the gap.
Through Sept. 22, she had received more than twice Stone’s contributions and had spent nearly twice as much. Her available cash for the remaining six weeks was $120,000 compared to Stone’s $76,000.
In financial filings since then, Silver has received another $440,000, doubling her total. In the week from Oct. 22 to 26, she received $245,000.
The largest gift has been $150,000 from the California Democratic Party. But the Tehema County Democratic Committee has sent $50,000 south to Silver and the Fresno, Humboldt and Santa Barbara counties committees have contributed $20,000 each. Also, 17 fellow Democratic candidates have each contributed $4,400 to her campaign.
During the same period since mid-September, Stone received another 26 contributions for $100,000. He is now receiving support from his party. The largest was $30,000 from the Republican Party of Orange County and another $15,000 from the 36th District Republican Party.
Most of the gifts were from organizations such as Chevron, American Medical Response and Union Pacific. Several medical related groups, such as AmerisourceBergen Services, Temecula Valley Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, and Western Dental Services, also contributed.
On Thursday, Silver’s campaign released a poll showing she was within 1 percent of Stone. Stone was the favorite of 45 percent of the respondents (a total of 414 likely voters) and Silver was favored by 44 percent.
