In what some said could not be done for a political newcomer, Joy Silver collected nearly $160,000 for her state Senate campaign in the last six months of 2017, outraising incumbent Republican Sen. Jeff Stone by a 3 to 1 margin.
For those who know her and have watched her criss-cross the 28th state Senate District, her tally came has no surprise. She has been relentless and determined in her quest to unseat Stone, and she knows it’s going to take money, leadership and hard work.
More than 600 individual contributors donated to the Silver campaign, giving her a significant financial base heading into the primary election and a substantial financial advantage over Stone at this point in the campaign.
Joy Silver
“I couldn’t be happier about the support our campaign has received since I launched my campaign, because it shows that people are ready for change in this district,” Silver said in a prepared statement. “I am proud that our campaign has inspired so many community members to contribute. This momentum is exactly what we need to win this Senate seat.”
In the last six months of 2017, the period covered by the most recent Fair Political Practices Campaign Form 460 filing, Silver raised $126,125, compared to Stone’s receipts of $39,865 in the same period. Silver’s cash on hand advantage is also significant, with Silver showing $105,126 available for the campaign and Stone having only $26,159 in the bank.
Silver received overwhelming support of the California Democratic Party delegates at the Jan. 8 pre-endorsement conference, setting the stage for her endorsement on the consent calendar at the state Democratic convention in February. Silver has earned the endorsement of many trusted elected officials including U.S. Congressmen Dr. Raul Ruiz, former U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer, state Sen. Connie Leyva, Assemblymember Eduardo Garcia and Riverside County Fourth Distric Supervisor V. Manuel “Manny” Perez.
Stone, a Republican, was first elected to the state Senate in 2014. He was a 2016 Republican candidate who sought election to the U.S. House to represent the 36th Congressional District of California. He lost to Ruiz.
The vast 28th District, which is entirely in Riverside County, stretches from the vineyards of the Temecula Valley to the Colorado River and includes the cities of Blythe, Canyon Lake, Cathedral City, Coachella, Desert Hot Springs, Indian Wells, Indio, Lake Elsinore, La Quinta, Murrieta, Temecula, Palm Springs, Rancho Mirage, and Wildomar.
Silver is a small business owner who built a successful career as a health clinic executive, senior housing developer and business consultant. Joy served as Chief Strategy Officer of Choices Women’s Medical Centers, leading a team of medical professionals and support staff in providing quality comprehensive care to women. Joy grew up in a working class family in Philadelphia. Her mother and father were both detectives. After a career in business that led her all over the country, Joy now lives in Palm Springs with her partner Atma Wiseman.
