PALM SPRINGS – The biggest contributor to Joy Silver’s campaign for the 28th State Senate seat is, well, Joy Silver. She has contributed, or loaned herself, $6,300 for the 2020 special election campaign.

That’s one headline to surface from the newly filed campaign disclosure forms.

Another is that Silver, D-Palm Springs, also contributed, or loaned herself, $29,000 for her 2022 Senate bid, for a total loan of $35,000.

On Monday, Silver issued a plea to her supporters. “Before mail-in ballots are released this week, we need to raise $7,500 to reach as many voters as possible so we can win this thing,” she pleaded. “So, I am asking if you can make a contribution today of $20.20, $50, or even $100 to boost our turnout and messaging operation.”

Some of her contributors and their donations include:

  • Peter Maietta, who ran an unsuccessful 2019 campaign for Palm Springs City Council, $100.
  • Robert Mueller, who ran an unsuccessful 2018 campaign for Rancho Mirage City Council, $100.
  • Les Young, who ran an unsuccessful 2019 campaign for Palm Springs City Council, $100.
  • The Center for Freethought Equality PAC, $500.

For the reporting period ending Jan. 23, Silver reported $14,223 in expenditures and an ending cash balance of $50,607.

Big-name, influential Democrats are noticeably absent from Silver’s list of contributors. They are opening their mouths, and their pocketbooks for the woman who has been described as “the daughter” of the Coachella Valley – Elizabeth Romero, D-Indio.

Riverside County Fourth District Supervisor V. Manuel Perez told Uken Report in January that the Democratic Party needs to unite behind one party if they are to win the seat Jeff Stone vacated – and one that Republicans have long claimed as theirs. It has become clear the chosen Democratic candidate is Romero, a lifelong Democrat, who has experience in public office.

Some of her contributors include:

  • California Latino PAC, $4,700
  • Eduardo Garcia for Assembly, $4,700
  • Coachella City Councilmember Megan Beaman-Jacinto, $400
  • Greg Rodriguez, $100
  • Nachhattar Singh Chandi, $4,700
  • Susan Chandi, $4,700
  • V. Manuel Perez, $1,000
  • United Food and Commercial Workers Union Local 1167 PAC (UFCW) Small Contributor Committee, $9,300
  • United Food and Commercial Workers West States Council Candidate PAC (UFCW) Small Contributor Committee, $9,300
  • United Food & Commercial Workers Union Local 324 PAC, $4,700

For the reporting period ending Jan. 23, Romero reported $11,418 in expenditures and an ending cash balance of $16,319 heading in the March special election.

Both Silver and Romero know they are up against a popular incumbent Republican Assemblymember who wants to move to the 28th State Senate District.

Melissa Melendez, R-Lake Elsinore, had more than $222,000 cash on hand heading into the March 3 special election.

Image Sources

  • campaign finance: Shutterstock