Corporate Kiley

When Assemblyman Kevin Kiley introduced Assembly Bill 2079 on Feb. 5, seeking to bar Pacific Gas & Electric Company from making political contributions in the state, the Rocklin Republican didn’t mention the numerous other big-name corporate interests who’ve supported his campaign in recent years.

California Secretary of State filings showed that Kiley’s campaigns for the Assembly and state Senate have taken in more than $600,000 since the beginning of 2019. Much of the money has come from a who’s-who of corporations, who he’s supported with his votes and positions.

His donors included three members of the Walton family, which owns 51% of Walmart, who gave $14,100 to Kiley’s 2019 campaign for state Senate, which he lost to fellow Republican Brian Dahle.

Kiley’s pro-business votes have included voting against AB 790, which would have required employers with market capitalizations of at least $1 billion and entering into personal services contracts with the state to provide employees with information on their labor organizing rights.

Of the $465,000 Kiley raised in his unsuccessful state Senate bid, Facebook gave $4,700 and Netflix CEO Reed Hastings gave $2,000. Major technology firms have continued to donate to Kiley since he fell to Dahle in a special election last June, with Amazon giving $2,000 and Google giving $1,500 to his 2020 Assembly campaign.

Kiley, in turn, has been a friend to tech, voting against data privacy law AB 1202, which passed last year.

After Chevron gave $2,000 in September to his Assembly campaign, Kiley voted against AB 1441, which would strengthen oil and gas drilling regulations, and AB 345, which would create an environmental justice program.

Kiley’s reelection bid is being challenged by Democrat Jackie Smith, who lost to the well-funded Republican in 2018.