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Gwyneth Paltrow, Mr. Spock Pick Sides in Beverly Hills House Race

The old slogan for MGM during the 1940s was that the studio had “more stars than there are in the heavens.”  

The same could be said of the fresh fundraising reports from the upcoming primary in California’s 33rd District — which covers Beverly Hills and Malibu. Dozens of Hollywood stars and executives donated during the past six weeks in this race to replace retiring Rep. Henry A. Waxman.  

There are at least six serious candidates running for the seat, and all filed pre-primary reports by Thursday’s deadline. These are the final comprehensive campaign financial reports ahead of the June 3 primary. The top-two finishers will proceed to the general election.  

These reports reflect spending and fundraising from April 1 to May 14. Stars crowded the race’s first quarter  reports as well.

Here is a rundown of 33rd District reports and other high profile June 3 House races:

California 33: Race to replace Waxman (Safe Democrat)

  • Radio host Matt Miller, a Democrat, raised $241,000, spent $316,000 and reported $406,000 in cash on hand. Prominent donors include Star Trek actor Leonard Nimoy, former New Jersey Sen. Bill Bradley, film director/Elisabeth Shue husband Davis Guggenheim, WB Network founder Jordan Levin, 1970s film star Ryan O’Neal, former Secretary of the Treasury Lawrence Summers and filmmaker Edward Zwick.
  • Attorney David Kanuth, a Democrat, raised $109,000, spent $558,000 and reported $304,000 in cash on hand. Prominent donors include actress Gwyneth Paltrow and Melrose Place star/rocker Jack Wagner.
  • Spiritual teacher Marianne Williamson, an independent, raised $575,000, spent $675,000 and reported $315,000 in cash on hand. Williamson further loaned her campaign $300,000 for a total of about $400,000 in loans over the course of the primary. Prominent donors include actresses Melanie Griffith, Eva Longoria, Holly Robinson Peete, Lily Tomlin; Julianne Phillips, the ex-wife of Bruce Springsteen; former NBC President Warren Littlefield and actor Joseph Bologna, star of the 1980s musical “Rags to Riches.” Florida Democratic Rep. Alan Grayson is scheduled to campaign with Williamson on Friday and Saturday in the district.
  • Democratic former Los Angeles City Comptroller Wendy Greuel raised $378,000, spent $685,000 and reported $186,000 in cash on hand. Prominent donors include predominantly behind-the-camera Hollywood players, including William Morris Endeavor Agency honcho Ari Emanuel (brother of Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel and the inspiration for “Ari Gold” on the HBO show “Entourage,”) “Friends” executive producer Marta Kauffman, ex-Paramount Studios CEO Sherry Lansing, and Candy Spelling, the widow of television producer Aaron Spelling.
  • State Sen. Ted Lieu, a Democrat, did not carry the star heft in his reports but he has the most cash on hand to dump into the final weeks of the campaign. He raised $280,000, spent $406,000 and reported $452,000.
  • Republican candidate Los Angeles Deputy District Attorney Elan S. Carr raised $65,000, spent $330,000 and reported $20,000 in cash on hand.

California 31: Race to replace Republican Rep. Gary G. Miller (
Safe Democrat

  • Ex-Democratic Rep. Joe Baca posted another lack luster quarter. He raised $22,000, spent $31,000 and reported $20,000 in cash on hand.
  • Democratic Redlands Mayor Pete Aguilar raised $132,000, spent $412,000 and reported $403,000.
  • Democratic attorney Eloise Gomez Reyes raised $104,000, spent $470,000 and reported $170,000.
  • Republican ex-Congressional aide Lesli Gooch raised $72,000, spent $154,000 and reported $101,000 in cash on hand.

Democratic operatives are growing increasingly anxious about this race ahead of the primary.  

California 52: Incumbent – Democratic Rep. Scott Peters (Tossup

  • Democratic Rep. Scott Peters raised $153,000, spent $120,000 and reported nearly $1.5 million in cash on hand.
  • Republican former San Diego City Councilman Carl DeMaio raised $172,000, spent $255,000 and had nearly $1.2 million in cash on hand.

New Jersey 3: Race to replace retiring Republican Rep. Jon Runyan (Tossup

  • Former Randolph Mayor Tom MacArthur raised $15,000, spent about $964,000 and reported about $800,000 in cash on hand. He is running a largely self-funded campaign.
  • Ex-Bogota Mayor Steve Lonegan raised $401,000, spent $435,000 and reported $139,000.
  •  Democratic Burlington County Freeholder Aimee Belgard had an uncontested primary and was able to continue strengthen her war chest. She raised $71,000, spent $65,000 and had $332,000 in the bank

New Jersey 12: Race to replace retiring Democratic Rep. Rush D. Holt (Safe Democratic

  • New Jersey Assemblywoman Bonnie Watson Coleman raised $147,000, spent about $157,000 and had $94,000. Democratic Reps. Albio Sires of New Jersey, Marcia L. Fudge of Ohio and Barbara Lee of California contributed to her campaign.
  • State Sen. Linda Greenstein raised $151,000, spent $79,000 and reported $159,0000 in cash on hand.

Montana At-Large: Race to replace Republican Rep. Steve Daines (Favored Republican

  • Former state Sen. Ryan Zinke raised $291,000, spent about $564,000 and had about $151,000 in cash on hand.
  • State Sen. Matt Rosendale raised $524,000, spent $594,000 and had $222,000 in cash on hand. He loaned his campaign $500,000. In total, he has put $1 million of his own money into the race.
  • Former Montana Senate Minority Leader Corey Stapleton raised $242,000, spent $239,000 and had about $59,000 in cash on hand. Conservative Foster Friess donated to his campaign. Stapleton’s sums included personal donations and loans totaling around $220,000.
  • State Sen. Elsie Arntzen raised $26,000, spent $53,000 and had $14,000 in cash on hand.
  • Democratic former Hill staffer John Lewis raised $61,000, spent about $53,000 and had $520,000 in cash on hand. He has an uncontested primary.

Emily Cahn contributed to this report. 

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