Congressman Doug LaMalfa’s re-election campaign has raised $956,000 in the last two years, $166,850 of it from the casino and gambling industry, according to the Center for Responsive Politics.
LaMalfa's top two contributors are the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation of Yolo County and Poarch Band of Creek Indians of Alabama. Both tribes donated a reported $15,400.
As chairman of Indian and Insular Affairs Subcommittee of the House Committee on Natural Resources, LaMalfa is in direct contact with tribes.
A campaign staffer of LaMalfa's, who asked not to be named, said Monday the donations are based on the congressman's political positions.
“They (tribes) are donating to the campaign because they support his stances,” he said. “It works that way and no other way.”
“They (tribes) are donating to the campaign because they support his stances,” he said. “It works that way and no other way.”
Tribal support for LaMalfa comes less than two years since he sponsored a bill to “re-establish” Ruffey Rancheria of Siskiyou County.
Ruffey Rancheria would be provided full reinstatement as a tribe if the bill becomes law. This would allow the rancheria to forgo the process of applying for tribal recognition.
LaMalfa also co-sponsored the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians Land Affirmation Act of 2017.
"Look at his involvement and history," the LaMalfa staffer said. "Tribes support him and his positions."
LaMalfa has also accepted campaign donations from political action committees totaling $414,854 for the 2017-2018 campaign cycle. Agribusinesses provided the largest share of PAC contributions.
In the same report by Center for Responsive Politics, which uses data from the Federal Election Commission, individual contributors of $200 or less make up less than 3 percent of the 1st District congressman's overall campaign fundraising.
-- Rachael Bayuk
