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Dan Borenstein is the Bay Area News Group Opinion Editor. Previously, he was an award-winning columnist and editorial page editor of the East Bay Times. He has worked for the Times and its affiliated newspapers since 1980, including previous assignments as political editor, Sacramento bureau editor, projects editor and assistant metro editor. A Bay Area native, he holds master’s degrees in public policy and journalism from University of California, Berkeley.

http://www.contracostatimes.com/california/ci_28924400/herhold-let-california-voters-have-say-citizens-united

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Drucker: Money isn’t the root of all political evil

David M. Drucker
PUBLISHED: July 23, 2026 at 3:15 AM PDT | UPDATED: July 23, 2026 at 4:38 AM PDT
Categories:Opinion, Opinion Columnists

Demonstrators march in the snow through Lafayette Park, outside the White House, during a rally against the Supreme Court's decision in favor of Citizens United in Washington, D.C. in 2015.

At the risk of turning myself into a pariah, I don’t think money in politics is a problem.

Voters on the right and left don’t seem to agree on much these days. But they tend to share the belief — it’s an article of faith, really — that campaign donations, especially corporate cash, are a corrupting force in American politics. Simply put, voters tend to believe politicians would do the “right thing” (whatever that is) if not for money and its influence on their positions on issues big and small.

That view is misguided. It’s the result of a fundamental misunderstanding of the political gravity governing the flow of campaign contributions and the strict limits on donations imposed by federal law. Let’s start with the law. (Full disclosure: My wife is a Republican fundraiser.)

Individuals are prohibited from giving more than $7,000 to a (challenger or incumbent) candidate’s campaign — $3,500 for the primary and $3,500 for the general — per limits established by the Federal Election Commission for the 2026 election cycle. Wealthy donors interested in writing bigger checks can contribute up to $44,300 annually to a national party organization, such as the Democratic National Committee or the National Republican Senatorial Committee. And the most a big-money contributor can give to federal candidates and national party committees in total is $132,900 per year.

Corporate donations are prohibited. “Corporate political action committees” — technically called “separate segregated funds” — are funded by the voluntary contributions of employees and subject to donation limits similar to the caps placed on individuals.

Does corruption exist in the system? Inevitably. Are alleged violators prosecuted? All the time. Ask former New York Mayor Eric Adams and ask Michael Cohen, President Donald Trump’s former fixer.

But the law is a sideshow.

Money flow

Think of money in politics like water flowing in an aqueduct situated at an angle. The same way gravity will pull the water downhill, donors contribute cash to the Democratic and Republican politicians who already share their views as a form of affirmation and encouragement. This is true of wealthy donors who give in large amounts and grassroots donors who contribute a few dollars at a time. In other words, donors by and large don’t use campaign cash to manipulate policymaking they don’t like — to essentially bribe politicians into changing their minds.

Republicans, for instance, aren’t staunch supporters of the Second Amendment because of campaign donations from groups that oppose gun control. Republicans protect gun rights because A) they tend to personally believe in doing so and B) most GOP voters are as passionate on this issue as any I’ve covered in nearly 25 years of political reporting. The donations stem from there.

Everything I’ve just described is true for Democratic voters and their chosen candidates regarding abortion rights. And it’s true for both parties regarding Israel: Donations from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) are given to politicians who back the Jewish state and deployed against those who don’t.

Yes, but what about the scourge of super PACs and so-called dark money groups?

Both can accept donations in unlimited amounts from individuals and corporations. Super PACs must disclose their donors in FEC filings; issue advocacy groups or organizations — political nonprofits known as 501(c)4s under the US tax code — are not required to, hence the term “dark money.” That’s an advantage for deep-pocketed donors and big business that strikes most voters as unfair, and it’s a valid concern to an extent. In reality, the edge is smaller than presumed because of the various legal constraints placed on these two kinds of groups.

Super PACs are prohibited from coordinating spending with candidates’ campaigns on advertising messaging or strategy. Political nonprofits are limited in the amount of political activity they can engage in; total expenditures on politics must amount to less than 50% of all the money such a group spends.

Regardless, the principle of political gravity applies.

Money from super PACs and 501(c)4s flows to politicians that those entities already agree with and only helps as much as the candidate uses it to earn the support of rank-and-file voters. As I’ve written before, no amount of money can sell a bad product. Every election cycle, the political terrain is littered with candidates who lost despite raising more money than their opponents and enjoying the backing of super PACs and issue-advocacy organizations that were flush with cash.

No matter; as I conceded earlier, the lure of getting money out of politics is strong for most voters. I’ve witnessed Democrats and Republicans receive hearty applause for advocating for it. One of Trump’s most potent messages with GOP voters has been his vow to “drain the swamp” in Washington, D.C. — despite the perception of granting favors in exchange for donations. This election cycle, Democrats like Senator Jon Ossoff of Georgia and Michigan Senate contender Abdul El-Sayed are running on platforms that include eliminating money from politics (all while raising tens of millions of dollars for their campaigns, of course.)

Unhelpful reforms

Putting aside First Amendment protections for political speech as money, more laws could make things worse from the perspective that money in politics is bad. The rise of the super PAC and 501(c)4, for example, is a direct result of a 2000s-era campaign finance reform law designed to — you guessed it — get money out of politics. What the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002 (BCRA) did, instead, was empower wealthy and grassroots donors at the expense of political parties.

Before BCRA, the Democratic and Republican parties had greater control over resources, as they were able to raise money in unlimited amounts. Candidates then tended to rely on the parties for those resources, granting the parties significant sway over who represented them on the ballot. After BCRA, donors big and small wield resources through outside groups like super PACs and fundraising platforms like ActBlue and WinRed that function as a pipeline to finance candidates that the parties often oppose.

Money in politics certainly didn’t recede with more restrictions, and partisanship and extreme candidates, right and left, increased. Which is why fans of a more civil, functional politics ought to cheer the recent US Supreme Court decision in NRSC v. FEC.

The court in this case didn’t strike down contribution limits on party committees or make it easier for corporations — or public employee unions, for that matter — to attempt to steer policymaking. There is still regulation, and there should be. Rather, the ruling returned some of the authority the Democratic and Republican political committees enjoyed pre-campaign finance reform by enabling them to coordinate more directly, via advertising and messaging, with their respective candidates.

That could make the political parties more attractive to donors, as their contributions, while still subject to limits, might now be used more efficiently by the party committees than previously. That in turn could give the parties more say over who their candidates are. And that, over time, could reduce extremism and increase cooperation in American politics, which voters of all stripes claim to want.

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As pandemic-era funding dries up, leaders risk undercutting community programs that helped lower crime rates.

Then-Attorney General Xavier Becerra flanked by Gov. Gavin Newsom in Sacramento in 2019. If elected, Becerra would be the fifth consecutive Catholic governor.

Why California is America’s most Catholic state — and how it defines our politics

By Joe Mathews

June 18, 2026 at 4:11 a.m.

While California is caricatured as crazy, uber-progressive, even godless, the truth is that we might...

A sign is pictured for the “The Donald J. Trump and Jeffrey Epstein Memorial Reading Room" before the reading from the 3,747 bound volumes of publicly released Epstein files at the Reading Room in New York City in May.

Dowd: Jeffrey Epstein haunts the White House

By Maureen Dowd

June 18, 2026 at 4:14 a.m.

A clandestine Situation Room meeting reveals a presidency paralyzed by dark, lingering secrets.

Legislation in California's state Capitol would undermine access to public records.

Borenstein: Your government wants power to sue you for seeking public records

By Daniel Borenstein

June 17, 2026 at 10:58 a.m.

California bill aimed at requests made with undefined “malicious intent” could be used to punish...

A man looks at the wreckage of an Iranian missile that landed near Jericho.

Friedman: Everybody is a loser in this Mideast war

By Thomas L. Friedman

June 17, 2026 at 4:40 a.m.

Every leader involved failed their people, choosing personal fantasies over a decent and peaceful life.

Then gubernatorial candidate Tom Steyer at a rally with members of the California Nurses Association last month in Oakland.

Cottle: He spent $558 million. What a waste.

By Michelle Cottle

June 16, 2026 at 4:06 a.m.

Instead of buying political office, billionaires should direct vast wealth toward solving real issues.

Members of the California Teachers Association and proponents of public education march to the Capitol in Sacramento in 2019.

Two huge California unions clash over money, political clout this election season

By Dan Walters

June 16, 2026 at 11:01 a.m.

Teachers and medical staff are vying for tax dollars, executive allies and November ballot supremacy.

An irrigation ditch carries river water toward Quechan tribal land along the long-depleted Colorado River near Winterhaven, California in 2023.

Opinion: Recent assessment of California’s water misallocation is the first step toward justice

By David Sathuluri

June 16, 2026 at 4:07 a.m.

This system protects senior claims and big investments while exposing vulnerable people to severe shortages.

A sign for an emergency room.

Jarvis: Trump’s Medicaid cuts keep getting more harmful

By Lisa Jarvis

June 16, 2026 at 4:07 a.m.

The consequences will fall first on the most vulnerable Americans — and they won’t end...

Police tape at the scene of a mass shooting in April in Louisiana, whose violence, poverty and low incomes place it among the worst states for quality of life, per a new bipartisan study.

Kristof: The states where life is better

By Nicholas D. Kristof

June 13, 2026 at 3:00 a.m.

America does an excellent job generating wealth and a poor job translating that wealth into...

The 112-acre Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Complex, shown in 2023, provides one of the Bay Area’s most desirable properties for development.

Borenstein: The A’s left Oakland but they still control the Coliseum. That must change.

By Daniel Borenstein

June 12, 2026 at 4:10 p.m.

Clock ticking on six-party negotiations to unwind agreement that still gives team control over stadium...

President Donald Trump speaks during a Cabinet meeting as Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth looks on.

Kluth: The War Powers Resolution is working — even if it fails

By Andreas Kluth

June 12, 2026 at 4:41 a.m.

Congress is asserting its authority over executive overreach, signaling a significant turning point against Trump's...

Then Democratic gubernatorial candidate Tom Steyer speaks during his election night watch party in San Francisco on June 2.

Opinion: Tom Steyer’s stumble shows the perils facing self-funded candidates

By Garry South

June 11, 2026 at 4:07 a.m.

A veteran strategist explains why historic campaign spending fails to connect with average working families.

California primary election ballots are inspected at the LA County Ballot Processing Center on June 3 in City of Industry, Calif.

Egged on by Trump, right-wing ecosystem makes baseless claims of California voter fraud

By Dan Walters

June 11, 2026 at 4:10 a.m.

Right-wing influencers and Donald Trump allege election fraud over the state's slow primary ballot counting...

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers detain a person in Maryland last year.

Gessen: The White House’s latest provocation is ‘grotesque and terrifying and juvenile’

By M. Gessen

June 11, 2026 at 4:10 a.m.

A new official web page uses sci-fi tropes and dehumanizing rhetoric to turn Americans into...

State Senator Scott Wiener speaks at the Tax Fairness for All Families rally at the California Democratic Party State Convention last year in Anaheim.

Chabria: What the primary chaos says about California Democrats

By Anita Chabria

June 10, 2026 at 5:21 a.m.

The old guard has lost control, and the result is more candidates willing to sidestep...

Xavier Becerra shakes hands with supporters during a campaign event in West Hollywood on May 28.

Skelton: The secret to Xavier Becerra’s success

By George Skelton

June 10, 2026 at 5:21 a.m.

'Becerra didn't suddenly just get lucky with Swalwell's demise. He has capitalized on life-altering sudden...

French startup SquareMind's medical robot, designed to facilitate cancer screening using artificial intelligence, is displayed at VivaTech (a technology startup and innovation fair) at the Paris Expo Porte de Versailles exhibition center in Paris in 2024.

Opinion: How AI is already improving lives

By Jessica Melugin

June 11, 2026 at 11:22 a.m.

New software speeds up medical research, automates tedious paperwork and boosts small business competition.

Evan Milligan, center, plaintiff in Merrill v. Milligan, an Alabama redistricting case, speaks with reporters following oral arguments at the Supreme Court in Washington, D.C. in 2022.

Feldman: The Supreme Court doesn’t care about voting anymore

By Noah Feldman

June 9, 2026 at 4:09 a.m.

By allowing a racially discriminatory map in Alabama, the justices have signaled they are effectively...

California gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton displays an American flag sewn into his jacket at his primary night event on June 2 in Huntington Beach, California.

Chabria: No, Mr. Hilton, our elections are not ‘a joke.’ It’s time for you to stand up to Trump.

By Anita Chabria

June 6, 2026 at 3:45 a.m.

If Steve Hilton cannot clearly state that Donald Trump is wrong about voter fraud, he...

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth speaks on screen during the Rededicate 250: A National Jubilee Of Prayer, Praise & Thanksgiving last month in Washington, D.C.

Abcarian: Americans want to rebuild the wall between church and state

By Robin Abcarian

June 6, 2026 at 3:15 a.m.

Conservative Christians have gone too far in trying to push their values into public schools...

President Donald Trump speaks about the coming "UFC Freedom 250" event, in the Oval Office of the White House last month in Washington, D.C.

McCloskey: Does Trump really not care about the midterms?

By Abby McCloskey

June 8, 2026 at 11:27 a.m.

The president’s calculated indifference toward the midterms could give him exactly what he needs: a...

A Virginia woman speaks to a chatbot in 2020.

Mihm: AI ‘deathbots’ are technology’s latest spiritual craze

By Stephen Mihm

June 6, 2026 at 2:45 a.m.

History shows that breakthrough innovations, from telegraphs to AI, inevitably spark supernatural trends.

Rush-hour traffic on Interstate 580 eastbound from El Charro Road in Pleasanton, Calif. in April.

California’s population is stagnating as immigration and birth rates decline

By Dan Walters

June 6, 2026 at 2:45 a.m.

A plateau threatens K-12 enrollment and economic safety nets as leaders fail to adjust to...

California Gov. Gavin Newsom delivers a briefing of his proposed 2025-26 state budget at California State University in Turlock last year.

Medi-Cal cuts, tax increases loom as Capitol lawmakers dicker over the budget

By Dan Walters

June 5, 2026 at 4:09 a.m.

'California is ill-prepared for even a slip in revenues,' warns the state's budget analyst as...

The gates of Harvard Yard at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, last year.

Even with generous financial aid, elite universities favor children of the wealthy

By Prasad Krishnamurthy

June 4, 2026 at 4:21 a.m.

Legacy perks, niche sports and nonacademic ratings account for 70% of the admissions gap at...

Pancreatic cancer cells, nuclei in blue, growing as a sphere encased in membranes.

Jarvis: This pancreatic cancer drug is so good, it got a standing ovation

By Lisa Jarvis

June 4, 2026 at 4:21 a.m.

Revolution Medicine's oral treatment kept pancreatic tumors from growing for twice as long as conventional...

An unemployment service center in California in 2021.

Walters: California’s unemployment insurance morass will become the next governor’s problem

By Dan Walters

June 3, 2026 at 3:57 a.m.

With the jobless fund $22 billion in the red, a political stalemate awaits Gavin Newsom’s...

Medical personnel in the Emergency Room area at Scripps Mercy Hospital San Diego last year.

Chabria: California is teetering on a health care cliff, but few are paying attention

By Anita Chabria

June 3, 2026 at 3:00 a.m.

'If you wait to take action until it gets bad, it’s already going to be...

GOP gubernatorial candidate and Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco glances up as the first election returns are posted while speaking to campaign supporters in Eastvale on Tuesday night June 2, 2026. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

Failed sheriff Chad Bianco overwhelmingly rejected by California voters

By Sal Rodriguez

June 3, 2026 at 9:59 a.m.

In the years since, Bianco came to the false belief that his popularity in some...

Candidates for Lt. Governor, from left top, Michael Tubbs, Fiona Ma, Oliver Ma, from left bottom, Gloria Romero, Janelle Kellman, and Josh Fryday in the 2026 election.

Opinion: State’s second-highest post brings too much danger for me

By Joe Mathews

June 3, 2026 at 3:56 a.m.

In today's climate, 'the chances are simply too high that the next (lieutenant governor) ......

Vote signs are placed outside the polling station at the Encinitas Community and Senior Center in 2024.

Leubsdorf: Trump administration pressing demands for state voter info

By Carl Leubsdorf

June 2, 2026 at 4:09 a.m.

Despite court rejections and lack of fraud evidence, administration tightening its grip on how states...

California gubernatorial candidates Tony Thurmond, left, Chad Bianco, Tom Steyer, Steve Hilton, Xavier Becerra, Katie Porter, Matt Mahan and Antonio Villaraigosa during a 2026 California gubernatorial debate at Pomona College in Claremont in April.

Skelton: My pick for California governor is … I’m still working on it

By George Skelton

June 1, 2026 at 12:10 p.m.

'It’s an underwhelming field. But one of these Democratic contenders will very likely replace Gov....

Former U.S. Rep. Katie Porter and San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan won’t win in Tuesday’s gubernatorial primary. But their decisions to stay in the race will likely enable Republican Steve Hilton to move on to the general election.

Borenstein: Porter’s and Mahan’s egos fuel Hilton in California governor race

By Daniel Borenstein

June 1, 2026 at 4:20 a.m.

The legacies of the two Democrats will likely be that they enabled Trump’s candidate to...

Democratic National Committee chairman Ken Martin speaks at a Lancaster County Democratic Party event in Lancaster, Pa. in October.

Goldberg: The agony around the Democrats’ mysterious, ridiculous autopsy

By Michelle Goldberg

May 29, 2026 at 3:54 a.m.

'The document, it’s now clear, was kept under wraps not because it was impolitic, but...

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Frank Pine reposted this

Samantha Dunn
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Senior Editor, Engagement/Premium Content, Southern California News Group
7mo •
Find out why novelist Susan Straight doesn't write about the "forgotten" part of California, and why Knopf editor John Freeman thinks the Golden State is setting the bar in American literary circles. It's all here on this recent episode of BOOKISH from Southern California News Group! Watch:
https://lnkd.in/gEQJQjRF… more
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Samantha Dunn
• 3rd+
Senior Editor, Engagement/Premium Content, Southern California News Group
11mo •
Two great authors, two stories about community and family legacies, two VERY different approaches!
Join us for Southern California News Group BOOKISH this Friday with
"Will Trent" creator Karin Slaughter talking about her new novel "We Are All Guilty Here," which launches her first new series in years! Plus: Acclaimed author, Altadena's own Michelle Huneven, reflecting on her recent release "Bug Hollow."
It's free! It's fun! It's great conversation! Starts at 4 pm. PST Get the link:
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Samantha Gowen
• 3rd+
Editor | Writer | Content Boss | Information Junkie
11mo •
We’re hiring! The Southern California News Group is seeking a motivated reporter to cover housing in the region.
Come, join our Business team or pass this to someone who’s looking for a big beat with lots of opportunity for great storytelling.
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Anne R.
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Senior Corporate Recruiter at MediaNews Group
11mo •
📰 The San Diego Union-Tribune Is Hiring: East County Reporter
Join the region’s leading news source and help cover communities like Santee, La Mesa, El Cajon, and Lemon Grove.
Why the Union-Tribune:
• Be part of a trusted newsroom with a legacy of impactful journalism
• Cover one of Southern California’s most dynamic and diverse regions
• Collaborate with a strong team committed to public service reporting
What You’ll Do:
• Report on city government, breaking news, and community issues
• Deliver both quick-turn stories and deeply reported enterprise pieces
• Build sources, pitch regularly, and write with speed and accuracy
What You’ll Bring:
• 2+ years of journalism experience and sharp news judgment
• Strong writing, deadline management, and collaboration skills
• Passion for local storytelling and public accountability
📍 Based in San Diego | Some weekend/holiday shifts
💼 Ready to make an impact in local journalism? Apply today and help shape the stories that matter!
MediaNews Group Dori Tarcy Yohana Michelle Tyler Juliana Alexis
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Megan Rodriguez, SHRM-CP
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HR Generalist | MediaNews Group
2yr •
We are adding to our talented Bay Area News Group Circulation team! We're looking for a driven, team player to manage the ever changing delivery logistics of multiple distribution centers! If you have a track record of success in circulation distribution, excellent communication skills, and are comfortable working in a fast-paced, dynamic environment, we want to hear from you!
Melvina Ponzio Dori Saad Anne R. Stephen Magaña Garrett Hunt Yohana Woldu Michelle Wiseman Alexis Castillo… more
Circulation Manager
MediaNews Group
San Jose, CA (Hybrid)
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Kimberly Guimarin
• 3rd+
Senior Editor | Inland + Crime and Public Safety | Southern California News Group
2yr •
Come work with us. we have several newsroom openings we're looking to fill. #journalism
Southern California News Group
2yr •
Interested in working with a dynamic media team in Southern California, the second largest media market in the U.S.? We have opportunities for journalists, designers, advertising sales and more. https://lnkd.in/dSZ3ZZm… more
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Frank Pine
• 3rd+
Executive Editor @ MediaNews Group | Digital Media, Editorial
2yr •
Megan Rodriguez, SHRM-CP
• 3rd+
HR Generalist | MediaNews Group
2yr •
Are you an experienced editor with a keen understanding of local and regional issues, and a passion for shaping public discourse? Bay Area News Group is seeking an Opinions Editor for our esteemed opinion section in the dynamic Bay Area. As the Opinions Editor, you will curate and commission thought-provoking op-eds and commentaries, providing our readers with a platform to engage in meaningful discussions on local, regional, and national issues. If you are dedicated to elevating public understanding and promoting civil discourse, apply now to be part of our mission in enriching the Bay Area's dialogue through impactful editorial content!
Frank Pine Dori Saad Sharon Ryan Anne R. Stephen Magaña Michelle Wiseman Yohana Woldu Garrett Hunt Abigail Myers… more

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Experience

Executive Editor

MediaNews Group

Jul 2021 - Present · 5 yrs 1 mo

Los Angeles Metropolitan Area

Executive Editor

Bay Area News Group

Feb 2019 - Present · 7 yrs 6 mos

San Jose, CA

Responsible for editorial strategy, high-level content planning and oversight of senior personnel for the San Jose Mercury News and the East Bay Times in addition to the Southern California News Group, which consists of 11 dailies, including the Orange County Register, Press-Enterprise and the Los Angeles Daily News. … more

Executive Editor

Southern California News Group

Apr 2016 - Present · 10 yrs 4 mos

Santa Ana, CA

Responsible for editorial strategy, high-level content planning and senior personnel at 11 Southern California news organizations, including The Orange County Register, The Press-Enterprise, The (San Bernardino) Sun, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin, San Gabriel Valley Tribune, Los Angeles Daily News, Torrance Daily Breeze and Long Beach Press-Telegram.… more

Executive Editor

Los Angeles Newspaper Group

Oct 2012 - Apr 2016 · 3 yrs 7 mos

Ontario, California

Responsible for daily news gathering and reporting across platforms with emphasis on digital for nine Southern California news organizations, including The (San Bernardino) Sun, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin, San Gabriel Valley Tribune, Los Angeles Daily News, Torrance Daily Breeze and Long Beach Press-Telegram.… more

Director of Audience Development

Digital First Media

Jun 2015 - Nov 2015 · 6 mos

Los Angeles Metropolitan Area

Led efforts to increase digital audience at Digital First Media, which has more than 800 multi-platform publications in 15 states, including more than 70 daily newspapers and more than 150 weeklies. Principal author of DFM's Outlook 2020 plan, which assessed legacy media risk and digital growth opportunities between 2015 and 2020 and made recommendations for strategic investment, and DFM's "Content that Connects" report, which made recommendations for audience growth and development across the company. … more

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Education

California State Polytechnic University-Pomona

Bachelors, English

1992 – 1995

Activities and societies: Sigma Tau Delta

Projects

Audience Growth and Engagement Team

Jul 2014 – Nov 2015

Associated with Los Angeles Newspaper Group

Team lead for Los Angeles News Group's multi-departmental task force for audience growth. Our group - with representatives from editorial, advertising, marketing, circulation and IT - is focused on developing innovative strategies to increase readership and engagement across platforms and properties, with an emphasis on mobile and digital. … more

Editorial Lead for Systems Conversions - Digital First Media

Aug 2012 – Jun 2015

Associated with Los Angeles Newspaper Group

Serve as editorial lead in an ongoing project to convert all of DFM's 75 dailies to a new editorial front-end system (Saxotech), print redesign and new web content management system. Responsibilities include coordinating work across departments, pr