What do NYC government worker Daniel Kroop, Los Angeles social justice program manager Sarah Chang, and University of Arkansas instructor Chad Kieffer all have in common? They are all trying to influence the 2019 vote for Seattle City Council by sending contributions to Kshama Sawant’s campaign.
They are responsible for three of the over 1100 out-of-state contributions reported by Sawant’s campaign. Combined, over $83,000 in out-of-state contributions has been deposited by the two-term Councilmember. Non-Washington contributions make up nearly 40% of Sawant’s total contributions. (Contributions by each state are listed below.)
As she did in 2015, Sawant by far leads all city council candidates in all council districts in fundraising. Thus far, her campaign has received over $200,000 and no other council candidate has passed the $100,000 mark. In Sawant’s 3rddistrict race her opponents (Logan Bowers, Zachary DeWolf, Pat Murakami, Ami Nguyen, and Egan Orion) each has raised between $62,000 – $93,000). Sawant has received more money from out of state contributors than three of her five opponents have totally raised thus far.
While Sawant receives only 60% of her money from Washington residents, her opponents receive a far higher percentage of in-state contributions. Bowers receives 96% from Washington residents, DeWolf and Murakami are both over 99%, Nguyen receives 89% (nearly 10% is from California residents, most have Vietnamese surnames), and Orion over 96%.
What would Kshama Sawant say about a politician who received 40% of their campaign money from out of state “corporate interests?” We all know she would claim they “hold corporate interests over the interests of the citizens of Seattle.” She would likely state that the politician was “owned by corporate greed.”
Would the same be true with the money Sawant accepts? Does she hold the interest of these out-of-staters above the needs of Seattle citizens?
It would be interesting to ask Sawant if she believes Washington residents should determine who is elected to our state’s public offices. To reduce out-of-state influence on our political process, would Sawant support a ban (or even a 10% cap) on out-of-state contributions? Likely not, for as we have previously seen from the Socialist politician, she believes others’ greed is evil while her greed is justified.
Source of Kshama Sawant’s contributions
Alabama — $55
Alaska — $165
Arkansas — $993
Arizona — $84
California — $12,373
Colorado — $517
Connecticut — $77
D.C. — $706
Delaware — $50
Florida — $1,822
Georgia — $1,025
Hawaii — $247
Idaho — $60
Illinois — $7,272
Indiana — $187
Kansas — $122
Kentucky — $220
Louisiana — $217
Maine — $290
Maryland — $1,485
Massachusetts — $ 10,834
Michigan — $1,047
Minnesota — $10,003
North Carolina — $289
North Dakota — $277
New Hampshire — $134
New Jersey — $879
New Mexico — $432
New York — $6,654
Nevada — $270
Ohio — $5,440
Oklahoma — $90
Oregon — $4,200
Pennsylvania – $7.846
Puerto Rico — $50
South Carolina — $227
Tennessee — $417
Texas — $1,641
Utah — $79
Virginia — $298
Wisconsin — $4,144
West Virginia — $50
Total from 42 States & Territories — $83,318
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