California Donor Table

CDT funds LUCCA’s IE to elect formerly incarcerated criminal justice reformer Tamisha Torres-Walker to the Antioch City Council. CDT funds LUCCA’s IE for Torres’ re-election in 2022.

CDT launches the only IE to elect Pamela Price as Alameda County DA, elevating community demands for accountability and equity in the justice system.

In a campaign that produced a narrow victory for TJ Cox to the U.S. House of Representatives, CDT makes its first major investment in the Central Valley, with Communities for a New California (CNC). Their IE helps unseat incumbent Republican David Valadao.

CDT funds CNC Education Fund’s IE to support Susan Talamantes Eggman to state Senate, elevating her as a key progressive voice in health care, LGBTQ+ rights, and environmental policy in California’s Central Valley.

CDT begins supporting the newly formed Central Coast Civic Engagement Table.

CDT funds an IE to help elect long-time progressive Holly Mitchell to the LA County Board of Supervisors, making the five-member body all women for the first time in history. On the board, she launches the county’s guaranteed income program, advances housing solutions, and leads efforts to phase out neighborhood oil drilling.

CDT funds an IE led by SEIU 99 and members of the emerging LA Civic Engagement Table to help elect Lena Gonzalez, who later becomes Senate Majority Leader. She goes on to author groundbreaking legislation, from ending neighborhood drilling and expanding paid sick leave to advancing digital inclusion through “Broadband for All.”

CDT is the second largest funder of the IE led by members of the emerging LA Civic Engagement Table, to elect Karen Bass as Mayor of LA. Her victory, defeating a billionaire opponent backed by unprecedented spending, makes her the city’s first woman and second Black mayor, and positions her to tackle LA’s housing and homelessness crisis with a community-driven agenda.

CDT funds an IE with what later becomes the Inland Empire United table to elect Pete Aguilar to the U.S. House of Representatives. This race flips the district from Republican to Democratic control. 

CDT begins endorsing state legislative candidates. Endorsees include Eloise Gómez Reyes, who was later elected to the Assembly and became the highest-ranking Latina as Majority Leader in 2020. Today, she is one of California’s strongest progressive leaders in her role as State Senator.

CDT funds an IE with OC Action to elect Dr. Jose F. Moreno for Anaheim City Council in a newly drawn district because of 2014’s Measures L & M. In office, he challenges Disney’s political influence by opposing tax breaks and subsidy deals, helping shift council power toward greater accountability and prioritizing community needs over corporate incentives.

In its second major midterm election, CDT is the largest funder to OC Action, backing IE’s that help deliver three historic wins of U.S. House of Representative seats for Democrats in Republican-held districts: Katie Porter, Harley Rouda, and Gil Cisneros. 

CDT funds an IE with what later becomes Engage San Diego to elect progressive Democrat Bob Filner for San Diego mayor (he later resigns in disgrace due to numerous sexual assault allegations).

CDT funds Alliance San Diego Mobilization Fund’s IE to help elect Nora Vargas and Terra Lawson-Remer, now serving as Chair, establishing a progressive majority on the San Diego County Board of Supervisors.

With an IE funded by CDT, Engage San Diego Action and Alliance San Diego Mobilization Fund, help elect Monica Montgomery Steppe to the San Diego County Board of Supervisors, re-establishing a progressive majority. 

CDT funds IEs by ACCE Action, CAIR Action, and the Alliance San Diego Mobilization Fund to help elect Paloma Aguirre in a special election for the San Diego Board of Supervisors, once again re-establishing a progressive majority.

CDT is one of the first funders of a 501c4 that later becomes California Environmental Justice Alliance Action (CEJA) in a winning million dollar ballot measure campaign, “No On 23 – Californians To Stop The Dirty Energy Proposition Committee.”

CDT’s family of entities establishes a $750,000 total budget, including grants.

CDT sends several California office holders to the first Local Progress national convening, moving local elected leaders to advance a racial and economic justice agenda through all levels of local government. Two of these leaders join the founding board.

Faye and Sandor Straus become CDT board members. 

CDT convenes labor, donors, and community groups to establish a policy agenda and educates leading candidates on the framework for the next Secretary of State (SoS). Newly elected SoS Alex Padilla enacts many of these policies during his tenure from 2015-2021.

Eva and Karen Grove join the CDT board.

CDT funds Inland Empire United’s IE to elect Tony Thurmond as state Superintendent of Public Instruction.

Bill Resnick and Michael Stubbs become the first LA members of CDT’s board.

Ludovic Blain becomes founding Board Chair of the State Leadership Project (SLP), the 501c3 aligned with Committee on States (CoS), the national association of state donor tables.

CDT funds $3.5 million of voter engagement led by groups in San Diego, Central Valley and Inland Empire against the recall of Governor Gavin Newsom. Through a dedicated PR effort, CDT also helps reach and convince Newsom to invest $1 million of campaign spending in a field strategy reaching voters of color.

CDT goes public, infusing political media with valuable, community-centered expertise.  

Through its cumulative investments in groups and candidates, CDT has helped secure 29 progressive wins in the state legislature, more than a third of the Assembly, marking an unprecedented level of progressive representation in California state office.

CDT helps raise more than $1 million to found and staff the California chapter of Local Progress, building infrastructure to organize progressive elected officials statewide.

CDT Political Director Tim Molina leaves CDT to join Committee on States as Deputy Director.

Rebecca Hamburg begins advising the State Leadership Project, engaging philanthropic institutions in civic engagement work beyond California.

CDT catalyzes and funds a multi-year civic engagement collaborative in San Mateo.

In a major effort to safeguard democracy for the nation, CDT began a $5 million fundraising campaign to engage low propensity voters and voters of color in “Yes on Prop 50.”