Eunice Hernandez, a left-handed politician from Los Angeles, criticizes billionaires and large corporations, asserting that their financial contributions are unwelcome. Yet, interestingly, her campaign declaration form reveals that she has already accepted funds from two billionaire families.
In an impassioned Instagram video, this DSA-backed lawmaker urges billionaires to “keep scrolling” while promoting her re-election campaign as a battle against wealthy interests, which she claims exploit working-class families.
Hernandez has faced accusations of hypocrisy after she neglected to attend a vital political meeting, during which her district’s parks devolved into areas plagued by drug activity.
MacArthur Park, once a popular community hub, has now become notorious as a focal point for fentanyl use, filled with open drug activity and encampments. Many residents view it as a stark representation of the failures of City Hall.
In her campaign video, Hernandez criticizes her opponents for their ties to the New York Post, a publication that sought comments multiple times, including on Wednesday, but received no response.
Her campaign is backed by a billionaire family that supports progressive movements, including those linked to New York City Mayor Zoran Mamdani, all while projecting an image against wealth.
Campaign finance records show contributions from Patty Quillin, the wife of Netflix co-founder Reed Hastings. Quillin is a billionaire Democratic donor known for giving significant sums to major party figures and progressive groups. For example, she made two $500,000 donations to the Senate Majority PAC in 2018 alone, alongside a $50,000 contribution during the 2016 election cycle. This PAC plays a crucial role in shaping Senate elections.
Working-class residents and small businesses express frustration, feeling they bear the brunt of City Hall’s failures.
Hernandez’s donor list also includes Elizabeth Simmons, daughter of the late hedge fund manager Jim Simmons, who shares a family fortune of about $32.5 billion with her stepmother and siblings. Simmons actively contributes to Democratic candidates and causes through her political funding. For instance, in August, she donated $250,000 to New Yorkers for Lower Costs, a primary group supporting Mandani.
Despite the substantial backing from nearly billionaire sources, Hernandez’s fundraising appears limited. She has only managed to raise $74,609 this cycle, slightly ahead of her challenger Sylvia Robredo, who has garnered $48,242.
