While we’re in an election campaign lull between now and Labor Day, we have time to consider the impact of $102 million in campaign contributions in the primary. In the general election, more money will fill candidate campaign coffers, and from the looks of things, ballot initiatives will get plenty of attention as well. The primary provides clues.

Up to now, about 110,000 individuals and entities have given somewhere between $10 and $2 million in contributions, with a grand total of about 300,000 donations when duplicates are added. 

It’s easy to see who has donated in the $0 to $2500 range, about 115,000 individuals and entities, because these dollars typically go straight from individuals to candidates under strict campaign finance rules. Those dollars add up to about $32.6 million spread across statewide candidates (governor, attorney general, etc), legislator candidates, and local office seekers as well as prospective ballot initiatives and propositions. Of the $102 million, these dollars represent 33 percent of the total but the vast majority of donors.