It’s interesting, or maybe even a bit ironic, to see left-leaning candidates linked to the Democratic Socialist Party of America (DSA) pulling in significant donations from billionaires. This seems quite at odds with their campaign narratives that criticize the wealthy elite.
An email sent out by DSA-LA asked Angelenos to back candidates who “fight ICE, billionaires, and the Trump administration.” Yet, the reality appears mixed when looking at the funding these candidates receive.
In this email, there was also a call for supporters to attend a rally for Senator Bernie Sanders that promoted a “billionaire tax,” framing it as a movement for everyday people against those in power. However, records reveal that some of those candidates are benefiting from the exact billionaire class they’re denouncing.
For instance, Eunice Hernandez, a progressive council member, has drawn contributions from names connected to some wealthy families. Notably, there’s Susan Pritzker, who has ties to the Hyatt Hotels family. She donated multiple times, including $500 in 2023 and 2025, alongside a contribution during her initial campaign in 2021.
Patty Quillin, a notable Democratic donor and the wife of Netflix founder Reed Hastings, has also contributed repeatedly to Hernandez’s campaign. Additionally, there’s Elizabeth Simmons, an heir to a hedge fund fortune, who has made donations as well.
This trend of receiving funding from wealthy backers isn’t isolated to just one candidate.
Quillin’s financial support has reached other candidates aligned with the DSA, including Councilman Hugo Sotomartínez and newly elected Isabel Jurado, both of whom have also tapped into a network of affluent donors.
Since 2022, Simmons has donated around $59,500 to various DSA candidates. Pritzker’s contributions total approximately $76,800 since 2021, which includes support for Mayor Karen Bass. Quillin stands out with around $173,200 contributed to Los Angeles races, including a hefty $35,000 to Hernandez during her 2022 City Council campaign.
This surge in donations has evidently bolstered the DSA-affiliated candidates’ fundraising efforts. Hernandez leads her field with $213,727 raised, while her opponent, Maria Lou Calanche, has gathered $134,710, and Raul Claros follows with $60,813.
Sotomartínez also reported a robust fundraising effort in his re-election campaign, with $109,189 compared to about $29,048 for his nearest competitor.
In the City Attorney race, Marissa Roy, affiliated with the DSA, has amassed $462,664.39, positioning herself as a strong contender against incumbent Heidi Feldstein Soto, who leads with $686,334.51 in contributions.
