Examines the financing of political campaigns in California over the past 20 years. Focuses primarily upon state legislative elections which provide a large sample size and allow for generalizations across election cycles. Includes comparisons with national and other state and local jurisdictions.

The passage of Citizens United by the Supreme Court in 2010 sparked a renewed debate about campaign spending by large political action committees, or Super PACs. Its ruling said that it is okay for corporations and labor unions to spend as much as they want in advertising and other methods to convince people to vote for or against a candidate. This book provides a wide range of opinions on the issue. Includes primary and secondary sources from a variety of perspectives; eyewitnesses, scientific journals, government officials, and many others.

Based on the largest data set available on state campaign finance, this work analyzes contribution and spending patterns at the state level in the USA. A range of issues are explained, including the rise in campaign costs and how spending patterns relate to the outcome of the elections.