Democrats pile up campaign cash in lopsided legislative races

With a little more than three weeks until Election Day, the presumptive favorites for the state legislative seats representing the North Coast have huge cash advantages over their opponents, the latest campaign finance records show.

Assemblyman Marc Levine, Healdsburg Mayor Jim Wood, Sonoma County Supervisor Mike McGuire and Napa County Supervisor Bill Dodd - all Democrats - have all amassed sizable war chests that, while not guaranteeing victory Nov. 4, help cement them as the overwhelming odds-on favorites to win.

The candidates’ ability to raise money also carries clout outside the campaigns, said David McCuan, a political scientist at Sonoma State University.

“Dollars are needed to signal to others how serious a candidate is about the race, how influential a candidate can potentially be once elected, and it signals to elites that the candidate or incumbent is a player to be reckoned with down the line,” McCuan said.

McGuire, who is seeking the 2nd District Senate seat spanning Marin County to the Oregon border, raised $198,203 from July 1 to the end of September. After spending $164,992, he had $296,677 in cash on hand, according to documents filed with the Secretary of State’s office in Sacramento.

McGuire’s largest contributors this reporting period included the California Teachers Association, which pitched in the maximum $8,200, and the political action committee for Operating Engineers Local No. 3, which ponied up $7,500. Other large contributors included the California Correctional Peace Officers Association, California Permanente Medical Groups PAC, District Council of Iron Workers PAC, Barona Band of Mission Indians and E&J Gallo Winery. Each donated $4,100.

Finance reports for McGuire’s Republican opponent, Lawrence Wiesner, were not available Friday.

Healdsburg Mayor Jim Wood, who is running for the 2nd District Assembly seat, raised $130,243 between July and the end of September. After spending $134,186, he had $127,130 in cash on hand, records show. The Assembly seat spans northern Santa Rosa to the Oregon border.

Wood’s largest donors this period include the California Real Estate PAC and the California Teachers Association, each contributing $8,200. The California Medical Association kicked in $5,000 and Anheuser Busch, Californians Allied for Patient Protection and Norcal Mutual Insurance Group each contributed $4,100.

Records for Wood’s Republican opponent, Matt Heath, were not available Friday.

In his bid for re-election, Assemblyman Marc Levine, D-San Rafael, this period raised $127,786 and after spending $69,455 had $280,072 in cash on hand, records show.

Levine’s largest contributors this period included the California Real Estate PAC, which put up $8,200, and the Morongo Band of Mission Indians and Western Manufactured Housing Communities PAC, which each contributed $4,100.

Levine’s Republican opponent, Gregory Allen, raised $22,654 this reporting period and after spending $27,010 had $582 in cash on hand, records show.

Allen’s largest contributors this reporting period included the Marin County Republican Central Committee, which kicked in $8,200, and Roland and Giti Underhill, who also put in a combined $8,200.

In the race for the District 4 Assembly seat, Dodd raised $344,506 this reporting period. After spending $194,059, he had $422,924 in cash on hand, records show.

The district encompasses Lake and Napa counties and 75 percent of Yolo County, as well as a section of Sonoma County including Rohnert Park and the unincorporated areas of Sonoma Valley.

Dodd’s largest contributors this reporting period included the California Real Estate PAC, the California State Council of Laborers PAC, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees PAC and CDF Firefighters, each putting in $8,200.

Dodd’s opponent, Charlie Schaupp, raised $10,925 this reporting period and spent $10,724, leaving him with $4,082 in cash on hand.

You can reach Staff Writer Derek Moore at 521-5336 ?or derek.moore@press?democrat.com. On Twitter @deadlinederek.