Democratic congressional candidate David Kanuth is far outpacing his competitors in Hollywood fundraising for the race to fill outgoing Rep. Henry Waxman’s Congressional seat, TheWrap has found in our ongoing analysis of the close mid-term election.
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Kanuth, a Venice-based defense attorney, raised $132,675 from entertainment industry donors in the first quarter of 2014. That’s nearly double the haul of closest rival Matt Miller’s $67,900 in Hollywood cash. Kanuth also leads Miller and fellow candidates Wendy Greuel, Ted Lieu, and Marianne Williamson in total campaign contributions with just over $800,000.
Greuel, a former DreamWorks executive, and Miller, a radio host, have gotten donations from executives including Jeffrey Katzenberg and Ron Meyer (Greuel) and Sony’s Michael Lynton (Miller).
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While Kanuth didn’t have as many major Hollywood executives on his roll he did seem to have broader appeal. Contributors to Kanuth’s campaign included everyone from “NCIS: Los Angeles” star Chris O’Donnell to Lionsgate executive Michael Burns and Nate Reuss, lead singer of Fun.
After nearly four decades in office Waxman retired earlier this year, opening up one what had been one of the most secure seats in the House to a flood of candidates. California’s 33rd Congressional district is the wealthiest in the state and the second richest in the nation, covering Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, and the coastal communities of Pacific Palisades and Malibu. The race is growing more intense as the June 3rd election date draws closer.
TheWrap’s methodology included a line-by-line analysis of itemized receipts for the first quarter 2014, as listed on the Federal Election Commission’s website. Though many individuals with direct or tangential relationships to the entertainment industry also made contributions, we focused on “power players” as defined by influential decision making authority or clout.
